questions & answers

Question: My AC is not working. I have grandchildren living with me. I have notified landlord, but he has not sent anyone to repair. How long do I have to wait for a response from landlord. If he doesn't repair soon, I will have to go to a hotel. I have already purchased 2 fans,(blowing hot air only) We cannot live in this hot house. What are my rights?

Answer: According to the Landlord Tenant Act (Title 33, Chapter 10, Article 2, Section 33-1324):
A. The landlord shall:
1. Comply with the requirements of applicable building codes materially affecting health and safety as prescribed in section 9-1303.
2. Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.
3. Keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition.
4. Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by him.

Remedies for failing to comply with these conditions are outlined in Article 4 Section 33-1364.

A. If contrary to the rental agreement or section 3 3- 1324 the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to  supply running water, gas or electrical service, or both  if applicable, and reasonable amounts of hot water  or  heat, air-conditioning or cooling, where such units are  installed and offered, or essential services, the tenant  may give reasonable notice to the landlord specifying  the breach and may do one of the following:
1. Procure reasonable amounts of hot water, running water, heat and essential services during the period of  the landlord's noncompliance and deduct their actual  reasonable cost from the rent. If the landlord has  failed  to provide any of the utility services specified in this  section due to nonpayment of the landlord's utility bill  for the premises, and if there is no separate utility  meter for each tenant in the premises such that the tenant could avoid a utility shutoff by arranging to have  services transferred to the tenant's name, the tenant  may either individually or collectively with other  tenants  arrange with the utility company to pay the utility bill  after written notice to the landlord of the tenant' s intent  to do so. With the utility company's approval the tenant  or tenants may pay the landlord's delinquent utility bill  and deduct from any rent owed to the landlord the  actual cost of the payment the tenant made to resto re  utility services. The tenant or tenants may continue to  make such payments to the utility company until the landlord has provided adequate assurances to the  tenant that the above utility services will be maintained.  
2. Recover damages based upon the diminution in the fair rental value of the dwelling unit.  
3. Procure reasonable substitute housing during the period of the landlord's noncompliance, in which ca se  the tenant is excused from paying rent for the period of  the landlord's noncompliance. In the event the periodic cost of such substitute housing exceeds the amount  of  the periodic rent, upon delivery by tenant of proof of  payment for such substitute housing, tenant may  recover from landlord such excess costs up to an  amount not to exceed twenty-five per cent of the  periodic rent which has been excused pursuant to this  paragraph.  
B. A landlord shall provide all utilities and services  specified in the lease agreement.  
C. A landlord shall not terminate utility services  as  specified in subsection A of this section which are provided to the tenant as part of the rental agreement,  except as necessary to make needed repairs or as  provided in section 33-1368. Subsequent to the  execution of the rental agreement, a landlord may not  transfer the responsibility for payment of such utility  services to the tenant without the tenant's written consent.  
D. If a landlord is in violation of subsection C of this  section, the tenant may recover damages, costs and  reasonable attorney’s fees and obtain injunctive relief.  Nothing in this section shall preclude a tenant's  right to  recover damages as specified in section 33-1367.  
E. A lease agreement shall not contain any terms  contrary to this section.  
F. In addition to the remedy provided in paragraph  3 of  subsection A of this section, in the event the land lord's  noncompliance is deliberate, the tenant may recover the actual and reasonable cost or fair and reasonable  value of the substitute housing not in excess of an amount equal to the periodic rent.  
G. If the tenant proceeds under this section, he ma y  not proceed under section 33-1361 or section 33-136 3  as to that breach, except as to damages which occur prior to the tenant proceeding under subsection A o r B  of this section.  
H. The rights under this section do not arise until the  tenant has given notice to the landlord and such rights  do not include the right to repair. Such rights do  not  arise if the condition was caused by the deliberate or  negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of  the tenant's family or other person on the premises with the tenant's consent.  

For the full text of the Landlord Tenant Act: http://www.maricopacountyattorney.org/pdfs/community/Residential-Landlord-Tenant-Act.pdf

For a summary of the rights and responsibilities of residents: https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/TenantRightsResponsibilities.pdf