Alaska Month-to-Month Lease Agreement

An Alaska month-to-month rental agreement is a contract (not necessarily in writing) for a tenant to rent property from a landlord, one month at a time, in exchange for a fee (“rent”). The agreement renews monthly, until either party gives proper notice to end it.

Basics of an Alaska Month-to-Month Rental Agreement

In Alaska, a landlord and tenant create a month-to-month lease by agreeing to rent a property according to acceptable terms. Written agreements are clearer and more reliable in case of disagreement, but month-to-month oral (unwritten) leases are legal.

Parties under a month-to-month lease have full rights under Alaska landlord-tenant law. The tenant must use the property in a responsible way and pay rent on time. The landlord must ensure the tenant’s quiet enjoyment of the property. This includes keeping critical features of the property in good working condition.

The main difference between a month-to-month lease and a fixed-term lease is that month-to-month leases can be terminated (with proper notice) by either party, for any reason, without penalty. Landlords also can usually modify terms from one month to the next, again with proper notice.

Required Disclosures for Month-to-Month Rentals in Alaska

Alaska landlords may not rent a property out without making the following disclosures to a potential tenant, as applicable:

• Landlord’s Name and Address – Landlords must give the tenant their name and address, or that of their authorized agent. This allows required communication (for example, about repairs) to happen in a smooth way.
  
• Tenant Occupancy/Absence Disclosure – Alaska leases must include a reminder that the tenant must give notice when going away for longer than seven days. This reminder must also state that rental property may only be occupied as a dwelling.
• Withholding Security Deposits Disclosure – Alaska landlords have the right to withhold some or all of a security deposit for specific lease violations. A lease must provide notice of this right to the tenant.
  
• Lead-Based Paint – Landlords must provide an EPA-approved disclosure and informational pamphlet to tenants renting any property built before 1978.

Required Notice To End a Month-to-Month Rental in Alaska

Alaska lets both the landlord or tenant end a month-to-month lease on at least 30 days of advance notice. [1] In general, it’s valid to end a month-to-month lease for any reason that isn’t landlord retaliation.

Alaska requires written notice for ending a month-to-month lease.

Required Notice To Raise the Rent on an Alaska Month-to-Month Lease

Alaska requires written notice for a rental increase, but there’s no particular timeframe given for that notice. This means in most cases it’s reasonable for a landlord to use the standard notice period for termination or other major lease changes. In Alaska, this is 30 days.

Eviction in Alaska Month-to-Month Rentals

Alaska tenants may get evicted if they violate lease terms or stay on the property after the notice period allowed by a valid termination. Evictions in Alaska typically take four to eight weeks.

For more information on the eviction process in Alaska, click here.