The Alaska rental agreements are contracts between a landlord and a tenant. The agreements allow the tenant to use real property in exchange for rent payments (usually made monthly). All rental agreement contracts must be in compliance with Alaska’s state landlord-tenant laws.
Alaska Rental Agreement Types
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Alaska Required Lease Disclosures
- Landlord’s Name & Address (required for all) – Alaska landlords are required to provide their contact information or an agent’s information in the lease agreement for serving legal notices and receiving correspondence.
- Tenant Occupancy/Absence Disclosure (required for all)- The disclosure requires a tenant to provide notice to the landlord of any absence of seven days or more, for the safety and condition of the dwelling.
- Withholding Security Deposits (required for all) – A landlord must notify the tenant that they have the option to withhold the security deposit for specific reasons listed in the lease agreement. If the tenant creates substantial damage the landlord can keep the security deposit to pay for the tenant’s noncompliance with the lease.
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (required for some) – Alaska landlords must provide notice of the potential risks of lead-based paint in homes built prior to 1978, including a pamphlet from the EPA, a special lead paint addendum, and disclosure of any hazards that are known to protect potential tenants.
To learn more about required disclosures in Alaska, click here.
Alaska Landlord Tenant Laws
- Warranty of Habitability – Alaska landlords are required to provide accessible hot and cold water, HVAC equipment, sanitation facilities and more. If an Alaska tenant’s dwelling is no longer in a “fit and habitable condition,” they can request a repair that their landlord must act upon within 10 days. If this deadline is not met, an Alaska tenant can use the “repair and deduct” method.
- Evictions – An Alaska tenant can be evicted failing to pay rent or utilities, violating lease terms, has no lease/end of lease, failing to provide landlord access to the property or commits illegal activity. Depending on the type of eviction, a notice to pay, comply or quit must be provided to the tenant before starting the eviction process. This process typically takes several weeks or months.
- Security Deposits – Alaska landlords are legally permitted to charge two months’ rent in value as a security deposit (except for dwellings with a rent rate of over $2,000). These deposits must be returned within 14 days of the notice of termination of the lease or 30 days without notice.
- Lease Termination – In Alaska, a week-to-week lease can be terminated following a 14-day notice and a month-to-month lease can be terminated following a 30-day notice. A tenant in Alaska is not required to provide notice for a fixed end date lease. There are several conditions for legally breaking a lease in Alaska and include an early termination clause, active-duty military, uninhabitable units, domestic violence, and more.
- Rent Increases & Fees – In Alaska, a landlord needs to provide a 30-day advance notice of a rent increase to month-to-month renters. There is no limit on a maximum late fee and bounced check fees are limited to $30.
- Landlord Entry – An Alaska landlord must provide 24 hours of advance notice before legally entering an occupied unit. Landlord entry must occur at a “reasonable” hour. This standard does not apply in emergency situations.
- Settling Legal Disputes – Alaska tenants and landlords can settle disputes (excepting evictions) valued at fewer than $10,000 through the state’s small claims court. Generally, these cases carry a 3-year statute of limitations.
To learn more about landlord tenant laws in Alaska, click here.
