questions & answers

Question: We have a tenant that will not answer our calls, texts, emails or answer his door we suspect that no one is living in the home because it is a filthy, unhealthy mess completely unsanitary There are cats living in the home but empty cats food cans all over the kitchen floor we looked in the window and saw a cat The window was partially opened and when we looked inside all we could smell was a strong Oder of cat urine They have not paid rent in 3 months and we can’t find or get hold of them They have completely destroyed our home What are our rights? Can we enter the home?

Answer: The Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act addresses this situation in its section on “abandonment,” which is A.R.S. 33-1370. Before the landlord may enter and retake possession of the dwelling, the landlord must follow certain rules. The full text of A.R.S. 33-1370 is available here: https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/33/01370.htm