Landlord tenant; partial payment; procedures.
This proposed amendment potentially alters the existing landlord-tenant relationship by providing tenants with a structured opportunity to make partial payments without immediately facing eviction. The bill aims to protect tenants from sudden termination of their rental agreements due to non-payment, especially in cases where partial payments might be a temporary solution during financial hardship. By allowing a one-week window for tenants to settle their dues after making a partial payment, the bill promotes stability in housing arrangements.
SB1172, titled 'Landlord-Tenant; Partial Payment; Procedures,' seeks to amend Section 33-1371 of the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning the acceptance of partial payments in rental agreements. The bill specifies that landlords are not required to accept partial payments of rent but can do so under specific conditions. If a tenant provides at least fifty percent of the rent before or during a five-day notice period for non-payment, the rental agreement's termination is temporarily stayed for one week, during which the tenant must pay the remaining balance to reinstate the rental agreement. Furthermore, any late fees accrued are to be canceled if the full payment is made within this grace period.
Notably, the bill may encounter resistance from landlords who could perceive the requirement to accept partial payments, along with the conditions mandated for terminating rental agreements, as a limitation on their rights. Landlords may worry that these regulations do not account for the potential financial risks incurred when tenancies are continued despite non-payment. Thus, while the measure aims to offer tenants more flexibility, it raises concerns about the balance of power between landlords and tenants in rental agreements, with potential implications for landlords' financial security.