Full question:
A tenant just left he punched holes in the wall and flooded the basement and destroyed door. Do I have legal recourse?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Date:
- State: Arizona
Answer:
In Arizona, tenants have specific responsibilities regarding the maintenance of the rental property. According to Arizona law (A.R.S. § 33-1341), tenants must not deliberately or negligently damage the premises. This includes actions such as punching holes in walls or causing flooding.
If a tenant fails to comply with these obligations, the landlord may take action. For example, if the tenant's actions materially affect health and safety, the landlord can enter the property to make necessary repairs after providing written notice. The landlord can then charge the tenant for the costs incurred (A.R.S. § 33-1369).
After the rental agreement ends, the landlord can seek possession of the property and claim damages for any breaches (A.R.S. § 33-1373). Additionally, if the landlord has a security deposit, they can use it to cover damages caused by the tenant (A.R.S. § 33-1321).
It’s advisable to document the damages and consider consulting with a legal professional to explore your options for recovering costs associated with the tenant's actions.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.