In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.
Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.
My landlord told me that he will not fix the air conditioner because I have not paid the rent. Can he do that?
No. Landlords and tenants each have a different set of rights and obligations under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The tenant cannot withhold their rent and should choose a remedy provided by law to avoid being evicted for non-payment of rent. Additionally, the landlord cannot willfully decide to not fix the air conditioner because the tenant allegedly is in breach of their lease. In fact, if the decision by the landlord to not fix the air conditioner is deliberate (as opposed to waiting for a vendor or a part to be available), the tenant may recover the actual and reasonable cost of alternative housing up to but not more than one months rent, or terminate the lease and recover an amount of two months rent or their actual damages.
Resources
Air Conditioning Legal Info Sheet
Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act