Phoenix landlord-tenant attorney for renters

My Phoenix apartment has no air conditioning — what can I do?

Under A.R.S. § 33-1364, cooling is an essential service in Arizona. After proper written notice to your landlord, tenant remedies include hiring the repair yourself and deducting the cost, obtaining substitute housing while the AC stays broken, or terminating the lease. In a Phoenix summer, this is the claim we build most.

The written notice is where most tenants stumble — the statute's remedies switch on only after notice is delivered the right way, so getting that letter right on day one matters more than anything that follows.

Broken cooling in Phoenix is also part of a larger story: our extreme-heat investigation looks at who bears the Valley's heat risk — and renters are at the center of it. See /investigations/extreme-heat for the bigger picture.

I got a 5-day notice — how do I fight an eviction in Maricopa County?

Fast. For nonpayment, Arizona landlords need only give a 5-day notice before filing a special detainer action, and justice court hearings follow within days. Defenses exist — payment or tender of rent, improper notice, retaliation, the landlord's own failure to maintain the unit — but only if you appear and raise them.

The single worst move is skipping the hearing. A default judgment issues almost automatically, and a writ of restitution can follow shortly after. Showing up with counsel changes the posture of the case immediately.

How do I get my security deposit back in Arizona?

A.R.S. § 33-1321 caps deposits at one and a half months' rent and requires the landlord to return your deposit, with an itemized list of any deductions, within 14 business days after move-out. Wrongful withholding exposes the landlord to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.

Move-out photos and a written demand letter resolve a surprising share of Phoenix deposit disputes without a lawsuit — and when suit is needed, justice court keeps it fast and inexpensive.

What counts as uninhabitable housing under Arizona law?

The Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requires landlords to keep rentals fit and habitable — working plumbing, hot water, safe electrical, weatherproofing, and compliance with housing codes. When a landlord ignores written repair requests, the Act gives tenants remedies that can include repair options, rent relief, or lease termination, depending on the defect.

A City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services inspection report documenting code violations pairs powerfully with your own written repair requests — it turns a he-said-she-said into a paper record.

Can my landlord lock me out or retaliate against me?

No. Self-help lockouts are prohibited in Arizona — a landlord cannot change the locks, cut utilities, or remove your belongings to force you out without a court order. Under A.R.S. § 33-1367, a tenant who is illegally ousted has statutory remedies, and retaliation for asserting your rights is itself unlawful.

Retaliation cases often turn on timing: a rent hike or termination notice landing right after you complained to the city or requested repairs tells its own story.

Do mobile home and RV park tenants have the same rights?

Not exactly — Arizona covers mobile home parks and long-term RV spaces under separate statutes with their own notice rules, eviction procedures, and protections, distinct from the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. If you own your home but rent the lot, which act applies changes your rights, so get the classification right first.