An Arkansas residential lease agreement (“rental agreement”) is a legal contract between a landlord overseeing a residential property and a tenant who wishes to rent it. A residential lease may, on or before move-in, additionally require a security deposit from the tenant as assurance against future property damage.
Arkansas Residential Lease Agreement Disclosures
This disclosure is required for residential lease agreements in Arkansas:
| Disclosure | Applicable To |
|---|---|
| Lead Paint | All Units Built Before 1978 |
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
Applicable to any Arkansas rentals built before 1978.
Arkansas residential leases for property built before 1978 must, by federal law, contain a lead-based paint disclosure. This requires landlords to do the following:
- Fill out and attach this lead-based paint disclosure form to the lease agreement.
- Provide the tenant with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved pamphlet about the dangers of lead-based paint.
- Provide any additional records or reports about the presence or hazards of lead-based paint in the unit. For multi-unit buildings with common areas, this includes information from building-wide evaluations.
Download: Arkansas Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form (PDF)
Optional Disclosures and Addenda (Recommended)
The following lease agreement disclosures and addenda are not required by Arkansas law in residential lease agreements, but assist with tenant management and help limit landlord liability.
| Optional Disclosure | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Asbestos | Informs tenants about any asbestos hazards related to the property. Tenants can take precautions to reduce asbestos hazards by avoiding any disturbance of asbestos fibers. |
| Bed Bugs | Informs tenants whether the property or an adjacent unit has a history of suspected bed bug infestation, and reminds the tenant of the obligation to report suspected infestation immediately. |
| Landlord’s Name and Address | Specifies the name and address of the landlord or authorized agent. This enables smooth communication of any important legal notice. |
| Late/Returned Check Fees | Specifies late fees or returned check fees related to the lease. Arkansas has no cap on late fees. Returned check fees have an initial $30 cap per check; if not paid within 15 days of a written demand, the landlord can then bill for 2x the amount of the check (minimum $50), plus the $30 returned check fee, plus court costs and attorney fees if a lawsuit is required. |
| Medical Marijuana Use | Informs tenants about policy related to medical marijuana use on the rental property. Some state laws allow landlords to restrict marijuana usage to non-smoking methods only, or allow use only in designated smoking areas. |
| Mold Disclosure | Informs tenants about actual or suspected mold contamination on the property, along with any remediation efforts, to help limit landlord liability. |
| Move-In Checklist | Takes inventory of existing property damage, when the tenant takes possession of the rental property. This enables accurate deductions from the security deposit upon move-out. |
| Non-Refundable Fees | Charges not agreed by the tenant in the lease may be refundable upon lease termination. For Arkansas landlords to charge a non-refundable fee, it must be disclosed and agreed as such in the lease. |
| Shared Utilities Arrangements | Discloses how charges are billed to individual tenants, when multiple rental units share a utility meter for the whole building or property. This ensures tenants receive fair charges and understand what uses contribute to their bill. |
| Smoking | Informs tenants of designated smoking areas that do not interfere with the quiet enjoyment of other tenants. |
Consequences of Not Including Mandatory Disclosures
Mandatory disclosures outline important health, safety, and property information for the benefit of both landlord and tenant. A landlord who fails to provide federally or state-mandated disclosures could face legal consequences or monetary penalties, either from a tenant lawsuit or from state officials. Many lease provisions may be unenforceable without legally required disclosures.
Failure to comply with the federal lead-based paint hazard disclosure risks fines of tens of thousands of dollars per violation.
Sources
- 1 Ark. Code § 4-60-103
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(a) A person who issues a check that is not paid because the check was written on an account with insufficient funds has fifteen (15) days following the date of a written demand mailed or delivered to the drawer of the check at the address shown on the check or his or her last known address to pay to the holder of the check or his or her agent the amount of the check and a collection fee not to exceed thirty dollars ($30.00), plus the amount of any fees charged to the holder of the check by a financial institution as a result of the check’s not being honored.
(b)(1) A person who fails to make restitution as set forth in subsection (a) of this section and who fails to pay the amount of the check and a collection fee not to exceed thirty dollars ($30.00), plus the amount of any fees charged to the holder of the check by a financial institution as a result of the check’s not being honored, within thirty (30) days following the date of a written demand mailed to the drawer by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address shown on the check or his or her last known address is liable to the holder of the check or his or her agent for:
(A) Twice the amount of the check, but in no case less than fifty dollars ($50.00); and
(B) A collection fee not to exceed thirty dollars ($30.00), plus the amount of any fees charged to the holder of the check by any financial institution as a result of the check’s not being honored.
(2) The prevailing party may recover court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees after suit has been filed.
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