questions & answers

Question: Landlord refuses to make repairs in the house we are renting. We are withholding rent. Today there's a notice on our door, that he's going to shut off the electricity. He refuse to move us to another unit and said if we can make repairs but he won't deduct the cost. He want us to pay for the repair on top of the rent. This sounds so illegal. Can you help us ??

Answer: Under Arizona law, it is unlawful for a landlord to cut off a tenant’s utilities under any circumstances without the express permission of a judge, so a landlord who does so faces significant monetary penalties if the tenant complains (A.R.S. 33-1324, A.R.S. 33-1361, A.R.S. 33-1364, A.R.S. 33-1367). However, under Arizona law it also is never permitted for a tenant who continues to reside in a dwelling to withhold their rent (A.R.S. 33-1368(B)). It might be wise to speak with an attorney. There are links to free and low-cost legal services on this website (at http://www.azlawhelp.org/accessToJustice).