Alaska Month-to-Month Lease Agreement

Required Landlord Disclosures (3)

Alaska and federal laws require three mandatory disclosures when a landlord and tenant sign a lease agreement:

1. Lead-based paint: Landlords must inform tenants of the known presence of lead-based paint and all associated hazards in any units built prior to 1978 (Section 1018 of Title X).

2. Landlord’s name and contact information: Residential rental agreements must include the landlord’s and/or property manager’s name and contact information (AS 34.03.080(a)).

3. Extended Time Away: If the tenant plans to depart the property for more than 7 days, they must notify the landlord (AS 34.03.150)

Required Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Agreement

Either the landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month agreement in Alaska by providing the other party with appropriate notice:

Required notice for landlord: 30 days (AS 34.03.290)

Required notice for tenant: 30 days (AS 34.03.290)

Rent Increase Laws

Since Alaska month-to-month lease agreements operate on relatively short terms, these contracts provide landlords more opportunities to increase rent.

However, landlords must notify tenants of any rent increases per state laws. Per the Alaska Landlord-Tenant Act, tenants-at-will are entitled to 30 days’ notice before rent is increased.

As of 2025, neither rent control nor rent stabilization laws exist in the state of Alaska. Though local governments may enact rent control measures, no municipality or county has done so. As a result, landlords may increase rent by any amount they want at the end of a lease period.

Rent Payment Laws

Grace period: Alaska landlord-tenant law does not provide a grace period for tenants to pay overdue rent.

Late rent fees: Landlords in Alaska may charge either a reasonable flat-rate late fee or a percentage-per-day late fee. However, the lease agreement must outline any late fees to be enforceable (Alaska Landlord-Tenant Act).

Tenant’s right to withhold rent: Tenants in Alaska may seek alternate housing and withhold rent if the landlord doesn’t complete a repair that significantly impacts the safety and/or habitability of the dwelling unit (AS 34.03.180(a)(1)). Additionally, the tenant may have the right to terminate the lease early (AS 34.03.160(a)).

Pet rent laws: Alaska landlord-tenant law does not directly address whether or not landlords may charge pet rent fees to tenants. However, landlords cannot charge individuals with service animals or emotional support animals pet rent under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Security Deposit Rules

Maximum security deposit: Unless the monthly rent exceeds $2,000, landlords may charge up to 2 months’ rent as a security deposit in Alaska (AS 34.03.070).

Security deposit receipt: Alaska landlord-tenant law does not explicitly require landlords to provide tenants with a receipt for security deposit payments.

Interest: Landlords in Alaska are not required to pay interest on a tenant’s security deposit. However, if the deposit is stored in an interest-bearing account, the tenant is entitled to receive that interest under general trust laws (12 AAC 64.210).

Deduction tracking: Landlords may remove funds from the security deposit to cover unpaid rent or utilities and remedy property damages that exceed normal wear and tear. Landlords in Alaska must thoroughly record and itemize all deductions, including the reason for the deduction and the costs to repair (AS 34.03.070).

Returning a tenant’s security deposit: After receiving a tenant’s notice of intent to move out, the landlord must return all remaining portions of the security deposit and an itemized statement of deductions, if applicable, within 14 days. If the tenant does not provide notice, the landlord must return the security deposit and itemized statement within 30 days (AS 34.03.070).

Pet deposit rules: Landlords in Alaska may not charge more than 1 month’s rent as a pet deposit. Additionally, the pet deposit must be stored separately from the security deposit and can only be used to remedy damages caused by the animal (AS 34.03.070).

Property Access Regulations

Advance notice: Landlords in Alaska must notify tenants 24 hours before accessing a dwelling unit (AS 34.03.140).

Immediate access: Landlords may access the dwelling unit immediately in case of an emergency, court order, or lease abandonment (AS 34.03.140).

Landlord harassment: If the landlord repeatedly fails to provide required notice to tenants before entering the dwelling unit, this could constitute landlord harassment and a violation of the tenant’s right to privacy. In this case, the tenant may obtain a court order against the landlord, terminate the lease early without penalty, and receive damages from the landlord (AS 34.03.300).

Rental Agreement Violations

Missed rent payment: When rent becomes overdue, landlords may issue a 7-day Notice to Pay or Quit (AS 34.03.220(b)).

Lease violation: In the case of a material lease violation, the landlord may issue a 10-day Notice to Remedy the Breach or Quit the premises. If the same violation occurs again within 6 months, the landlord may terminate the Alaska month-to-month lease agreement with 5 days’ unconditional notice (AS § 34.03.220(a)(2)).

Self-help evictions: Self-help evictions, such as utility shut-offs or lockouts, are strictly prohibited in Alaska.

Lease abandonment: Typically, tenants who abandon an Alaska month-to-month lease agreement must pay rent for the duration of the original rental term. However, the tenant may break the lease without penalty to start active-duty military service (Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act), in the case of landlord harassment (AS 34.03.300), or if the dwelling unit does not fulfill the warranty of habitability (AS 34.03.160(a)).