The Arizona rental agreements are legal contracts written between a landlord and a tenant who seeks to occupy a residential or commercial property. The rental agreement contains terms and conditions about the use of the property, as well as establishing the amount of the regular rent payments and other regulations.
Arizona Rental Agreement Types
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Common Rental Agreements in Arizona
- Arizona Association of Realtors Residential Lease Agreement – this form is intended to be used by members of the Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR) only. It is heavily used by residential rental units throughout Arizona. It provides an extensive list of rules and procedures, including specifics that go as far as outlining swimming pool barrier regulations.
- Arizona Department of Housing Residential Lease Agreement – Attachment 14A – this form is provided by the Arizona Department of Housing and is primarily used for Arizona month-to-month leases or fixed-term leases. This document specifically outlines a tenant’s duties for maintenance and repair of the rental premises.
Arizona Required Lease Disclosures
- Landlord’s Name & Address (required for all) – A landlord or authorized agent’s contact information must be included in an Arizona lease agreement to receive or send legal notices relating to the lease.
- Move-In Checklist (required for all) – Arizona landlords must provide a move-in checklist (to be returned within 5 days by the tenant) that outlines existing damages and an inventory of the rental unit, which will be used to itemize deductions at the end of the lease term.
- Notice of Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (required for all) – The availability of Arizona’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act should be included in every lease by providing a notice and/or linking to the act with a URL in the lease to ensure tenants are informed about their rights.
- Shared Utility Arrangements (required for all) – When rental units share a master meter for utilities in Arizona, the landlord must disclose the method of allocating charges, the meter readings before and after the term of payment, how each utility is charged, and any fees that are included so renters can know what to expect.
- Bed Bug Disclosure (required for all) – Arizona landlords must provide educational materials about bed bug infestations alongside every lease, often as an informational addendum to help avoid the spread of infestations throughout properties.
- Rent Adjustment Disclosure (required for all) – When a landlord in Arizona plans to adjust the rent during the lease term as a result of increased tax rates on the property, the right to do so much be disclosed in the lease to be enforced.
- Refundable/Nonrefundable Fees (required for some) – Any fees that are nonrefundable must be disclosed as such in an Arizona lease agreement.
- Pool Enclosure Disclosure (required for some) – Properties with access to a pool are required to provide a residential safety notice from the Arizona Department of Health to limit liability in case of an accident.
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosures (required for some) – The risks posed by lead-based paints in a rental unit must be disclosed in all US states, including Arizona, in the form of an EPA-approved pamphlet, a disclosure addendum, and record of any known hazard for units built before 1978.
To learn more about required disclosures in Arizona, click here.
Arizona Landlord Tenant Laws
- Warranty of Habitability – Landlords in Arizona are required to provide hot and cold water, HVAC equipment, reliable plumbing and electrical outlets, and more. If a tenant requests repairs, they must put their request in writing to the landlord. An Arizona landlord has 10 days to repair the issue after receiving a request. Otherwise, the effected tenant may perform a repair and deduct.
- Evictions – An Arizona tenant may be evicted for failure to pay rent, violating a lease term, no lease, building/safety violations, or illegal activity after receiving a notice to pay, comply or quit. Committing certain illegal acts may also elicit an immediate eviction notice. As such, this whole process can take from just a day to over a week.
- Security Deposits – An Arizona tenant cannot be charged more than 1 ½ their rent’s value as a security deposit. An Arizona landlord, meanwhile, has 14 days to return these deposits after the end of a lease.
- Lease Termination – Arizona month-to-month leases can be terminated legally if 30 days’ notice and week-to-week leases can be terminated with a 10 days’ notice. Otherwise, a fixed lease can be terminated for reasons of landlord harassment, domestic violence, active military duty, etc.
- Rent Increases & Fees – Arizona landlords may raise rent as much as they want and for any reason (excepting retaliation) if a 30-day notice is provided. Additionally, a landlord can charge a penalty fee of no more than $5 per day from the rent’s due date after the five-day grace period. Bounced check fees are capped at $25.
- Landlord Entry – Arizona allows landlords to enter an occupied unit if they have a “reasonable” cause and provide 2 days of advance notice. However, a landlord can enter during an emergency without advance notice.
- Settling Legal Disputes – Arizona’s small claims court may be used by landlords and tenants who engage in disputes valued at up to $3,500. Some local courts allow for higher limits and differing statutes of limitations, as well.
To learn more about landlord tenant laws in Arizona, click here.
