questions & answers

Question: landlord keeps enter my apartment without notice to fix items in our apt. We have not problem but we ask for then to notify us at what time and when, so we could be present. They tells that they could enter at anytime with out notice. Also they give the key to our apartment to other vendors without letting us know. We have little baby that get scared easily because of same trauma they been thur. We have given then times and days but they still do what they want. They also tells that their are going to terminate the contract. We have never been late with our rent and have allowed then to enter

Answer: Under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, if a tenant makes a service or maintenance request, then the landlord may enter the tenant’s apartment to make the requested repair (A.R.S. 33-1343(A)). However, in any other situation the landlord is required to give the tenant at least two days’ notice, except in the case of an emergency (A.R.S. 33-1343(D)). A landlord always must “enter only at reasonable times” (A.R.S. 33-1343(D)). The Act also says that the landlord must not “abuse the right to access or use it to harass the tenant” (A.R.S. 33-1343(D)). Finally, the Act states that if the landlord violates the above requirements, then the tenant may go to court to make the landlord stop or end the lease and also be entitled to financial compensation equaling at least one month’s rent (A.R.S. 33-1376(B)). If you would like legal advice, there are links to free and low-cost legal services on this website (at http://www.azlawhelp.org/accessToJustice).