General Housing Information

questions & answers

Question: Waterheaterstopped working howlandLordhastofixit

Answer: The answer to your question falls under the Arizona Landlord/Tenant Act in Title 33 of the Arizona statutes.  A.R.S. 33-1324 requires a landlord to maintain a residential, rental premises in a fit and habitable condition.  It requires the landlord to maintain all "electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating , ventilating, air conditioning and other facilities and appliances" in good working order.  The tenant is required to give the landlord written notice of the problem (hot water heater).  Written notice triggers a time period in which the landlord must fix the problem.  A.R.S. Section 33-1361 describes the time period for compliance.  If the need for repair does not affect health or safety, the landlord has 10 days after getting written notice to repair the problem.  If it does affect health and safety, the time period to fix the appliance or other problem is 5 days.  If the landlord does not repair the hot water heater in the specified time period after he receives written notice, the tenant may terminate the lease and demand his security deposit back.