Arizona Lease Agreements & Landlord-Tenant Law

About Arizona and Its Rental Market

In 2020, Arizona was the second-fastest-growing state in the U.S. This comes as no surprise with Phoenix’s warm, inviting weather and the diverse landscapes you can find throughout the state. Arizona is an excellent place to invest in property because of the constant increase in population and the growing need for housing. As home to 22 national parks and monuments, a growing craft brewery scene, and some of the best restaurants in the nation, it’s no wonder Arizona is a great place to live and invest in property. For our recommendations on exactly where to invest in this state, take a look at our Arizona rental investment report.

Arizona Voting Information

Laws that impact the rental market, landlords, and tenants are constantly being decided in states. Make sure you know what’s on your ballot – find Arizona voting information here.

Arizona Tenants’ Rights and Landlord Responsibilities

• Return security deposit within 14 days
• No legal provisions for rental increases
• Must make repairs within 10 days
• Must give a 2-day notice before entering

Arizona Landlords’ Rights and Tenant Responsibilities

• A tenant may not withhold rent for any reason outside of the self-help repair statute
• A tenant has 10 days to claim abandoned property
• A tenant has 5 days to pay rent
• Tenants are responsible for maintaining the residence

1. Withholding Rent – A tenant may only withhold rent if a landlord fails to make necessary repairs. Other than this, there are no legal reasons a tenant may withhold rent.
2. Abandoned Property – If a tenant moves out and leaves personal property, the landlord must send them a written notice and store the property for ten days. After this time period, if the ex-tenant has not claimed it, the landlord may sell it or throw it away.
3. Eviction Process – If a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord must give them a written notice that they have five days to do so. After this period, the landlord may file for an eviction. If the tenant violates the lease, the landlord must give them ten days to fix the violation before they are able to file for an eviction.
4. Maintaining Property – Tenants have a duty to keep the rental property maintained including complying with building codes, not destroying property, and properly using all appliances.

Application Fees

Arizona does not have any specific laws regarding application fees.

Criminal Background Checks

The State of Arizona has no added laws or restrictions around the collection of criminal background checks. Adherence to general federal law is required. To avoid the perception of discrimination, make sure your screening criteria is stated and is consistent and equal for all groups of people.

Disclosures

• Bed Bugs, including this information
• The Landlord-Tenant Act
• The purpose of any non-refundable fees
• Shared Utilities, including a breakdown of which utilities are shared and the payment arrangement (along with the formula for calculating who owes what)
• Pool Enclosure Disclosure, applicable for every property with pool, which must include this information

Build an Arizona lease agreement with all of the required disclosures in less than 15 minutes.

Arizona Lease Agreement

There are three sections to a residential lease agreement. The first section outlines the custom details of the contract, such as who’s involved and for what address. Here’s an example Arizona lease agreement listing details found in Section 1:

Arizona Landlord-Tenant Law FAQ

Below are brief answers for some of the most commonly-asked questions when it comes to landlord-tenant laws in Arizona:

Due Diligence and Arizona Rental Laws

TurboTenant has utilized many municipal sources along with official state statutes in order to compile this information to the best of our ability. However, local laws are always in flux and landlords and tenants alike should be sure to do their due diligence and consult legal help when it’s needed. We hope the following list can serve as a valuable resource and allow you to succeed as a landlord or tenant in Arizona. Be sure to take proper precautions when it comes to finding the top candidates for your unit by utilizing our online rental application and tenant screening services.

Disclaimer: TurboTenant, Inc does not provide legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. All users are advised to check all applicable local, state, and federal laws and consult legal counsel should questions arise.

Arizona Landlord-Tenant Law Resources

• Landlord and Tenant Act

Arizona Fair Housing Resources

• Tenant Rights, Laws and Protections: Arizona – HUD
• HUD in Arizona
• Fair Housing Brochure

Other State Resources

• Arizona Tenants’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook

Arizona Associations

• Arizona Multihousing Association
• Arizona Association of REALTORS®

Arizona City-Specific Housing Resources

Phoenix

• Landlord-Tenant Program – City of Phoenix
• Fair Housing – City of Phoenix
• Tenant Information – City of Phoenix
• Housing Department – City of Phoenix
• Phoenix Association of REALTORS®

Tucson

• Landlord Tenant Resource Center
• Tucson Association of REALTORS®

Mesa

• Current and New Landlords
• SouthEast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS®

Chandler

• Fair Housing – City of Chandler
• Information for Landlords – City of Chandler
• SouthEast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS®

Glendale

• Fair Housing – City of Glendale
• Glendale Association of REALTORS®

Scottsdale

• Fair Housing, Landlord-Tenant Resources – City of Scottsdale
• Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS®

Gilbert

• Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity – City of Gilbert
• SouthEast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS®

Tempe

• Fair Housing – City of Tempe
• Renting in Tempe – City of Tempe
• SouthEast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS®

Federal Fair Housing Resources

• Federal Fair Housing Act
• United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Wikipedia)