questions & answers

Question: Is a landlord legally required to provide external doors for apartment entrances, or can they use hollow interior doors instead of exterior doors? My apartment had a hollow door for my apartment entrance that got damaged and the property management is making me pay for the new solid, exterior door to replace the hollow interior door used incorrectly as an exterior facing door. I learned that my apartment was not the only one on the property with an interior door used as an exterior door and would like to know how legal that is.

Answer: The Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act does not address this specific issue. However, it does say that the landlord is required (among other things) to “make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition” and to “comply with the requirements of applicable building codes materially affecting health and safety” (A.R.S. 33-1324). A list of some of the conditions that materially affect a tenant’s health and safety is available here: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/9/01303.htm.