questions & answers

Question: what can I do if the owner sold the property and the new management is telling me I have to get my deposit back from him and he lives out of state???? The owner also owes me for unpaid wages during my employment there. He took me to court 4 times for payment of non rent but instructed the managers NOT to accept my rent payments. The courts ruled in my favor and I owed him zero. I was still evicted and had 5 days to move. I did a walk-thru with a manager and I left it move-in ready yet I'm fighting now for my deposit... any suggestions?????? Please.

Answer: Under Arizona law, a rental agreement that has not yet expired when the landlord sells the property to a new owner is generally enforceable against the new owner. Under A.R.S. 33-1321(D), a residential landlord is required to provide a former tenant with an itemized list of deductions (if any) along with the amount due and payable to the tenant (if any) within 14 business days after the tenant has returned possession of the dwelling to the landlord and requested the return of the deposit in writing. Under A.R.S. 33-1321(E), a landlord who fails to do so may be sued by the tenant for the amount that was owed to the tenant plus an additional amount of twice what was owed to the tenant in damages.