Not everyone can afford to own a house or condo. Maybe you’ve decided to rent until your finances are in better order, or you’ve just moved to Arizona and want to get a lay of the land before you commit to purchase. Renting may be your best bet and there are different options.
Or maybe you want to rent out your home as an investment if you aren’t ready to sell yet. In either case knowing the issues regarding leases, security deposits, animals, etc is important for the landlord and the tenant.
For example, did you know that a landlord cannot require a security deposit that is more than one and one-half times the monthly rent? In addition once the lease is signed the deposits cannot be changed.
Landlords only have the right for immediate entry onto a property in an emergency or by court order, otherwise 48 hours notice is required.
Here is a helpful booklet that highlights some of these issues and gives helpful tenant forms.
Another resource is the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. By statute the landlord must provide a printed copy of the Landlord Tenant Act if the tenant request it. They can be printed or picked up at the Arizona Dept of Housing at 1110 W St Suite 310, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
Fair housing is equally important, as housing providers are not allowed to discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18) or disability.
If a person believes they were discriminated against in their housing choice they can contact the Civil Rights Division at the Arizona Dept of Housing at 602-542-5263 or the Southwest Fair Housing Council at 602-252 3423 located at 323 W Roosevelt St Suite 100B, Phoenix, AZ.