Arizona Roommate Agreement

Key Components of a Roommate Agreement

1. Parties Involved: Clearly specify who is making the agreement, the property address, and the landlord’s details, including current contact information for all signatories.

2. Lease Term: Note the duration of the existing lease and how long the roommate agreement will last.

3. Security Deposit: Discuss how the security deposit will be split among roommates and establish rules for its return or deductions.

4. Rent Payment: State the total rent amount and how it will be divided among roommates.

5. Utility Payments: Determine how utility payments will be shared and who will be responsible for making those payments.

6. Lease Violations: Set rules for handling violations of the lease or roommate agreement, including procedures for early move-outs.

7. House Rules: List any house rules regarding food, cleaning, guests, etc.

8. Room Assignments: Specify bedroom assignments and which areas will be shared or private.

9. Signatures: Ensure all parties sign and date the agreement, and attach a completed landlord consent form.

Legal Requirements

Arizona law mandates that every new tenancy must receive a move-in checklist to document the property’s condition, which is crucial for accurate deductions from the security deposit upon move-out. This requirement applies to co-tenancies established through a roommate agreement.

Types of Tenancies

Understanding the different types of tenancies is essential for roommates and landlords:

1. Co-tenancy: All roommates are on the same lease, sharing equal responsibility for rent and lease terms. They cannot evict one another and must seek landlord intervention for misconduct.

2. Subtenancy: In this arrangement, the original tenant acts as the landlord to the subtenant, receiving rent and handling rental issues. The original tenant can typically evict the subtenant for misconduct, but subleasing usually requires landlord permission.

3. At-Will Tenancy / Guest Tenancy: This is an informal arrangement where the original tenant and roommate do not have a formal agreement. The original tenant can remove the roommate without an eviction process, regardless of how long the roommate has lived there.

Lease Violations in Roommate Situations

Roommates, as co-tenants, are “jointly and severally liable” for the lease terms. This means that if one roommate fails to pay rent, the landlord can seek full payment from any of the co-tenants. If a roommate has not signed the lease and the landlord has not consented to the roommate agreement, the original tenant remains fully liable for any violations committed by the roommate.

Resolving Roommate Disputes in Arizona

In the event of a dispute, the original lease takes precedence over the roommate agreement. House rules regarding non-lease matters (e.g., chores, quiet hours) are generally not enforceable in court. Roommates may consider using a neutral third-party service, such as mediation or arbitration, to resolve disagreements not related to the lease.

Statutes

• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1321(A) – Security Deposit Maximum
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1321(B) – Nonrefundable Fees
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1321(C) – Notice of Date/Time of Move-Out Inspection
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1321(D) – Deadline for Returning Security Deposit
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1321(E) – Failure to Comply with Security Deposit Return
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1314(C) – When Rent Is Due
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1414(C) – Late Fees for Manufactured Homes
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1414(A4) – Rent Grace Period for Manufactured Homes
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1364 – Tenant Allowed to Withhold Rent for Essential Services
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1363 – Tenant Allowed to Repair and Deduct Rent
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 12-341.01 – Landlord Allowed to Recover Court and Attorney Fees
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1370(C) – Landlord Must Mitigate Damages to Lessee
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1370(E) – Tenant’s Personal Property Held by Landlord
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1370(F) – Record Keeping of Sale of Tenant’s Property
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1375(A) – Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Week-to-Week Lease)
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1375(B) – Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Month-to-Month Lease)
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1375(C) – Tenant Holdover
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1368(A) – Termination for Lease Violation
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1368(B) – Lease Termination for Nonpayment
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1368(A2) – Termination of Lease for Falsification of Information
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1343(A) – Entry Allowed with Notice for Maintenance and Repairs
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1343(C) – Emergency Entry Allowed without Notice
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1343(D) – Required Notice before Entry
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1367 – No Lockouts or Utility Shut-offs Allowed
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1324 – Landlord Responsibilities
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1341 – Tenant Responsibilities
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1902 – Recording of Rental Property
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1902 – Business License Required
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1322 – Disclosure of the Landlord and Tenant Act
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1319 – Bedbug Infestation Regulations
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1318(A) – Domestic Violence Situations: Proof of Status
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1318(E) – Changing Locks in Domestic Violence Situations
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1381 – Assumption of Retaliation
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1370(C) – Landlord Must Mitigate Damages to Lessee
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1370(E) – Tenant’s Personal Property Held by Landlord
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1370(F) – Record Keeping of Sale of Tenant’s Property
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 22-503 – Arizona Small Claims Court Limits
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 44-6852 – Dishonored checks; service fee