questions & answers

Question: My husband and I live in a mobile park, which the mobile home has been paid off, however the electric is connected to two other places plus ours that makes it three running under one electric bill. Our bill for one window unit is $195.00 with the cost of the rent lot being 458. then the water , sewer and trash being 22.75 the total amount is $700.00 for a one bedroom trailer. help us A.S.A.P. we received an eviction notice. thank you sherrie fritz 573 999 7331

Answer: Under Arizona law, a landlord may terminate or refuse to renew a lease only for “good cause” (A.R.S. 33-1476). “Good cause” includes (a) noncompliance with any provision of the rental agreement; (b) nonpayment of rent; and/or (c) clear and convincing evidence that the tenant has repeatedly violated the tenant’s legal obligations. If a landlord has “good cause,” then the landlord may begin the process of evicting the tenant. Before a landlord can initiate an eviction, the landlord must first provide the tenant with written notice. That written notice must (1) state the reasons why the landlord will be terminating the lease and (2) identify the date on which the lease will end. (The amount of time that the tenant will have to move out – or in the case of nonpayment of rent, to pay all rent due – will depend on which of the “good cause” violations above is at issue. For nonpayment of rent, the tenant will have 5 days (A.R.S. 1368).) If the landlord does not have “good cause,” or did not provide you with proper notice, you may respond by filing what is called an “eviction answer” with the court. This is the form to use in Maricopa County: http://justicecourts.maricopa.gov/Forms/EA_Answer.pdf Forms for other counties are available here: https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Self-Service-Forms You may also wish to speak with an attorney.