There has to be a legal basis to evict you. Before doing so, the landlord must:
- Give you notice, and
- Provide an opportunity to cure the issue.
They cannot just evict you on the spot, and they must comply with your lease. They cannot legally force you to clean another tenant’s area. You are only responsible for your porch and the portion of the property you rent.
They also cannot force you to clean another tenant’s property. Your responsibility is to maintain your own unit and porch, not someone else’s.
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I live in an apartment in AZ. My landlord just came and threatened immediate eviction if I do not clean my porch and my downstairs neighbor’s porch. Let’s assume it was my fault their porch was dirty — not damaged, just dirty. Can they legally make me clean their porch? Can they threaten eviction if I don’t clean it? And can they threaten immediate eviction at that?
I'm sorry to hear about the situation with your landlord. Have you reviewed your lease agreement to see if there are any specific clauses regarding maintenance responsibilities for common areas like the porch?
Yes. They require us to maintain.
Have you tried discussing this issue with your landlord to clarify their expectations and address any concerns they may have about the cleanliness of the porch?
Yes.
Is there anything else the landlord-tenant lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they'll be able to help with your landlord's demands.
Yes.
This is Alex, Esq., and welcome to AskALawyer. I’ve been a legal expert on the site for over a decade, and my goal is to provide you with the best experience possible while answering your questions. Your satisfaction is my top priority!
Glad to hear that. I know you have questions and concerns about your rental and your landlord’s actions — and yes, this is understandably frustrating. Is there anything to justify what your landlord is doing? What exactly does the lease say?
The lease says we are to maintain our porches, etc., but they cannot prove I was responsible for those damages — and even if I was, can they make me physically clean it or threaten eviction?
For clarity, I am talking about physically cleaning the downstairs neighbor’s apartment. I’m not fighting having to clean my own.
There has to be a legal basis to evict you. Before doing so, the landlord must:
- Give you notice, and
- Provide an opportunity to cure the issue.
They cannot just evict you on the spot, and they must comply with your lease. They cannot legally force you to clean another tenant’s area. You are only responsible for your porch and the portion of the property you rent.
They also cannot force you to clean another tenant’s property. Your responsibility is to maintain your own unit and porch, not someone else’s.
Does this notice they give me have to be written?
Yes, it must be in writing. Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 33-1368(A)):
If a tenant materially breaches the rental agreement, the landlord must give written notice stating what the problem is and that the lease will terminate after 10 days if the tenant does not fix the issue.
That’s called a 10-Day Notice to Cure. Without that written notice and cure period, they cannot legally evict you.
They also threatened immediate eviction if they saw my dogs on my porch again. The lease does not say no dogs, and I pay my fees for them. Can they threaten eviction in this scenario?
No, they cannot. If your lease allows pets and you pay the required pet fees, the landlord can’t just change the rules mid-lease. Unless your lease specifically says “no dogs on the porch,” they cannot evict you for that. They’d have to amend the lease in writing — and you’d have to agree to it.
Knowing these facts, would I have a case against them as it currently stands? Or would I have to wait for them to fine or evict me?
Right now, you can send them written notice demanding that they stop the harassment and threatening behavior. If they actually try to evict you, you can fight it in court — and argue that they had no legal basis and failed to follow Arizona’s required notice procedures.
They are also saying that I will have to pay the $400 pet deposit for each pet. I did that when I moved in and they seem to have lost the paperwork. Do I have to pay this now that they have no record proof I did this?
How did you pay — was it cash, check, or electronically? And how long ago did you move in? If you can show any proof of payment — a receipt, money order stub, or bank transaction — that’s enough to dispute their claim. If they lost their own records, that’s their problem, not yours.
Please let me know if there’s anything else I can answer related to this, or if this has fully resolved your concerns. I hope the information was helpful to you. If you need additional assistance or have follow-up questions, just reply below — I’m happy to help further.
