This bill proposes several updates to the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. It introduces a requirement for landlords to provide at least nine months' notice for any rent increase to tenants on long-term leases or those who have been tenants for over a year. Additionally, it restricts landlords from charging prospective tenants for background checks or credit reports if they provide their own, limits the fees to the actual cost of screening processes, and prohibits charging more than one application fee within a twelve-month period. Furthermore, landlords cannot impose additional fees for payment methods such as online portals or automatic withdrawals.

The bill also mandates that landlords disclose specific information to tenants at the start of the tenancy, including the exact amount of rent and any mandatory fees, as well as any additional costs that may arise. It clarifies that a landlord's failure to comply with these requirements constitutes a material noncompliance of the rental agreement. Lastly, the bill establishes that violations of this chapter are considered unlawful practices under existing consumer protection laws, allowing for enforcement under those provisions. The act may be cited as the "Fair Rental Agreement Act."

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 33-1314, 33-1314.02, 33-1322, 33-1380, 14-3911, 33-1370