questions & answers

Question: I am a victim of attempted murder and the person who tried to kill me set my home on fire. It has been a month and the landlord have not started any repairs. What are my rights I have reported it to housing preservation and no one has contacted me. What are my rights and what do I do next?

Answer:

You can find information on landlord/tenant rights at azlawhelp.org/topics/housing-landlord/tenant. This is what they say "Landlords must provide several things in exchange for rental payments. One of the most basic and important requirements is that your landlord provide you and your family with a healthy and safe living environment. Your living environment includes your apartment or home, and any common areas the landlord owns and holds open to residents. Things Your Landlord Must Provide The law specifically states:

 •Your landlord must keep all appliances, which they supply, in working order.

•Your landlord must provide you with a way to dispose of garbage.

 •Your landlord must make it possible for you to receive running water, including hot water.

•Your landlord must supply everything they promised in the lease.

They can only shut off your utilities in a few very limited situations. Breach of Lease for Failure to Repair Occasionally damages to a rental unit, which are not caused by the tenant, tenant’s family or guests, may be severe enough to allow the tenant to cancel their lease agreement on the basis that the landlord failed to fulfill their obligations. Before seeking this remedy, however, you must be able to prove an important obligation was not kept and give your landlord a written notice. For most violations, you must give your landlord a written notice stating they have 10 days to make the repair. If the problem threatens your health or safety, you only need to give the landlord 5 days to make the repair. If the landlord fixes the problem within the appropriate amount of time, the lease cannot be cancelled. If the landlord does not fix the problem within the appropriate time, you can choose to end the lease early and get your security deposit back. We strongly encourage you to seek legal advice before resorting to this remedy because of the legal repercussions for tenants who seek this remedy improperly." You may need to contact an attorney for more information or clarification.