questions & answers

Question: I have been renting from a management group for 3 years. The past year and a half getting them to fix things takes weeks sometimes months. I had my glass of my patio door fall halfway out 3x. I had water leaks where it took weeks to get there and they didn't clean up water and now I have mold. They took off my lock off patio and never put on. Safety latch for pool was taken off. I have kids. My pool took a month and a half to get fixed was green where you can't see bottom. I have documentation and emails and photos. I finally had enough gave notice to move. They said no. What can I do?

Answer: Under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. 33 Chapter 10), a landlord is required (among other things) to “make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition”; “keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition”; and “maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and other facilities and appliances ... supplied or required to be supplied by him” (A.R.S. 33-1324). Under the Act, when a landlord breaches the rental agreement by failing to meet these requirements, a tenant may “deliver a written notice to the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than ten days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in ten days” (A.R.S. 33-1361). If, after this period has passed, the landlord still has not made the required repairs, then the tenant may vacate the premises. If you would like to discuss your specific situation with an attorney, there are links to free and low-cost legal services on this website.