Arizona Repairs & Tenant Remedies
Arizona rules on repairs & habitability for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Allowed for minor defects. The reasonable repair cost must be less than $300 or one-half of the monthly rent, whichever is greater. A.R.S. § 33-1363
The rules in Arizona
| Repair and deduct | Allowed for minor defects. The reasonable repair cost must be less than $300 or one-half of the monthly rent, whichever is greater. After written notice, if the landlord does not comply within 10 days (or sooner in an emergency), the tenant may have a licensed contractor do the work. The tenant then deducts the actual, reasonable cost from rent after giving the landlord an itemized statement and a lien waiver. For deliberate or negligent failure to supply water, gas, electricity, heat, air-conditioning or cooling, or other essential services, the tenant may give notice, buy the service, and deduct its cost from rent, or move to substitute housing with rent excused (§ 33-1364). Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: A.R.S. § 33-1363 |
|---|---|
| Withholding rent | A tenant may not withhold rent for any reason not authorized by the Act. Authorized offsets are the § 33-1363 repair deduction and the § 33-1364 essential-service deductions or substitute housing. In a nonpayment eviction, the tenant may counterclaim for the landlord's noncompliance, and the court may order rent paid into court. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
| Landlord retaliation | A landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an eviction after the tenant (1) complained to a building or housing code agency about a health or safety violation, (2) complained to the landlord about a § 33-1324 maintenance violation, (3) organized or joined a tenants' union, or (4) complained to a wage-price stabilization agency. A complaint within 6 months before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. The presumption does not arise if the complaint was made after notice of termination. The landlord may still evict for unpaid rent or for code violations the tenant caused. Remedies are under § 33-1367. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: A.R.S. § 33-1381 |
Related questions
Arizona vs. neighboring states
| State | Repair and deduct | Withholding rent | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Allowed for minor defects. The reasonable repair cost must be less than $300 or one-half of the monthly rent, whichever is greater. After written notice, if the landlord does not comply within 10 days (or sooner in an emergency), the tenant may have a licensed contractor do the work. The tenant then deducts the actual, reasonable cost from rent after giving the landlord an itemized statement and a lien waiver. A.R.S. § 33-1363 | A tenant may not withhold rent for any reason not authorized by the Act. Authorized offsets are the § 33-1363 repair deduction and the § 33-1364 essential-service deductions or substitute housing. In a nonpayment eviction, the tenant may counterclaim for the landlord's noncompliance, and the court may order rent paid into court. A.R.S. §§ 33-1368(B), 33-1364, 33-1365 | A landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an eviction after the tenant (1) complained to a building or housing code agency about a health or safety violation, (2) complained to the landlord about a § 33-1324 maintenance violation, (3) organized or joined a tenants' union, or (4) complained to a wage-price stabilization agency. A complaint within 6 months before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. A.R.S. § 33-1381 |
| California | If the landlord fails to fix conditions that make the unit untenantable within a reasonable time after notice (presumed 30 days), the tenant may repair and deduct the cost, up to one month's rent, or move out. The remedy may be used no more than twice in any 12-month period. Cal. Civ. Code § 1942 | By statute, a landlord may not demand or collect rent, raise rent, or serve a 3-day pay-or-quit notice when all of these are true: the unit is substantially substandard, a housing inspector has given the landlord written notice to repair, and the conditions remain unabated 35 days later without good cause. The tenant can recover actual damages plus $100 to $5,000 in special damages and attorney's fees. Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.4 | A landlord may not evict, raise rent, or reduce services within 180 days after the tenant, in good faith, gives a repair notice under § 1942, reports a suspected bed bug infestation, complains about habitability, complains to a housing agency, or takes part in a related inspection, lawsuit, or arbitration. This applies only if the tenant is not behind on rent, and a tenant may invoke it once per 12 months. Retaliation for organizing or joining a tenants' association, or for exercising other legal rights, is also unlawful. Threatening to report a tenant to immigration authorities counts as retaliation. Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5 |
| Nevada | Allowed for minor defects: if the reasonable repair cost is less than $100 or one month's rent, whichever is greater, the tenant may give written notice; if the landlord does not use best efforts to comply within 14 days, the tenant may repair and deduct. Limited to $100 or one month's rent (whichever is greater) in any 12-month period. For failure to supply essential services, the tenant may procure them and deduct actual and reasonable cost after written notice and 48 hours (excluding weekends/holidays). NRS 118A.360; NRS 118A.380(1)(a) | Allowed. For habitability failures not remedied within 14 days of written notice, the tenant may withhold rent without late fees until the landlord remedies or attempts in good faith to remedy (justice courts must provide an escrow mechanism). For failure to supply essential services not remedied within 48 hours (excluding weekends/holidays) of written notice, the tenant may withhold rent that comes due during the noncompliance. NRS 118A.355(1)(d), (5); NRS 118A.380(1)(c), (3) | Landlord may not terminate/refuse to renew, raise rent, decrease essential services, or bring or threaten a possession action because the tenant in good faith complained of building/housing/health code violations, complained to the landlord or law enforcement of a violation of Ch. 118A or a criminal statute, organized or joined a tenants' union, instituted or defended a habitability proceeding, filed a fair housing complaint, or is a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking (among other listed acts). Tenant gets NRS 118A.390 remedies and a defense to a retaliatory possession action. NRS 118A.510 |
| Utah | Yes. After a written notice of deficient condition, if the owner fails to take substantial corrective action within the corrective period (3 calendar days for habitability standards; 10 calendar days for lease requirements), the renter may repair and deduct up to two months' rent (keeping receipts and giving copies within five days after the next rental period begins). Utah Code 57-22-6(1), (4)(a)(ii) | No general withholding right. Instead, the renter may elect 'rent abatement' in the deficient-condition notice: if the owner fails to act within the corrective period, rent abates from the notice date, the lease terminates, the owner must return the entire deposit and prorated prepaid rent, and the renter must vacate within 10 calendar days. Utah Code 57-22-6(4)(a)(i) | No statute — Utah has no general law barring landlord retaliation (for example, for complaining about repairs). One limited rule: an owner may not restrict a renter's ability to ask a public safety agency (such as police or fire) for help, and may not penalize or evict a renter for making reasonable requests for that help. Utah Code 57-22-5.1(10); Utah Fit Premises Act (57-22) and Forcible Entry and Detainer (78B-6 Part 8) checked |
| New Mexico | No statutory repair-and-deduct remedy (the UORRA remedies are rent abatement, termination, damages and injunctive relief). NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-27.1, 47-8-27.2 | Statutory rent abatement: after written notice of conditions violating the owner's § 47-8-20(A) duties, if not fixed within 7 days the resident may abate one-third of the pro-rata daily rent per day from the notice date until fixed, or 100% per day if the unit is uninhabitable and the resident does not live there. Alternatively, 7-day notice to terminate for material noncompliance. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-27.1, 47-8-27.2 | An owner may not raise rent, reduce services, or bring/threaten an eviction because, within the previous 6 months, the compliant resident complained to a code-enforcement agency, joined/organized a residents' association, exercised UORRA rights (including written repair requests), made a fair housing complaint, won or has pending a lawsuit against the owner about the residency, testified for another resident, or lawfully abated rent. Retaliation is a defense to eviction; owner is liable for 2x monthly rent plus attorney's fees. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-39, 47-8-48(C) |
| Colorado | Allowed for breaches of the warranty of habitability. The tenant gives at least 10 days' written notice (48 hours if the condition materially threatens life, health, or safety) of intent to hire a licensed or qualified professional who is not a relative. If the landlord does not fix the problem or provide a comparable unit or hotel room, the tenant may hire the professional at a reasonable price and deduct the cost from rent, then provide receipts. A broken appliance may be replaced with a comparable one and deducted after 3 days' notice. C.R.S. § 38-12-507(1)(c) | No general right to withhold rent. Statutory remedies for a habitability breach are lease termination, repair-and-deduct, and a claim or counterclaim for actual damages, including reduced fair rental value. C.R.S. § 38-12-507(1)(a)-(d) | A landlord may not retaliate (raise rent, cut services, end or not renew the lease, bring or threaten eviction, harass, or charge fees) because the tenant made a good-faith complaint about a habitability condition to the landlord, a nonprofit, or a government agency; joined or organized a tenants' association; or used habitability remedies. The tenant need only show that the protected activity was a motivating factor. Remedies: the greater of three months' rent or three times actual damages, plus attorney fees. The tenant may also terminate the lease and raise retaliation as a defense to eviction. C.R.S. § 38-12-509 |
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Arizona Repairs & Tenant Remedies FAQ
Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Arizona?
Allowed for minor defects. The reasonable repair cost must be less than $300 or one-half of the monthly rent, whichever is greater. After written notice, if the landlord does not comply within 10 days (or sooner in an emergency), the tenant may have a licensed contractor do the work. The tenant then deducts the actual, reasonable cost from rent after giving the landlord an itemized statement and a lien waiver. (A.R.S. § 33-1363)
Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Arizona?
A tenant may not withhold rent for any reason not authorized by the Act. Authorized offsets are the § 33-1363 repair deduction and the § 33-1364 essential-service deductions or substitute housing. In a nonpayment eviction, the tenant may counterclaim for the landlord's noncompliance, and the court may order rent paid into court. (A.R.S. §§ 33-1368(B), 33-1364, 33-1365)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Arizona?
A landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an eviction after the tenant (1) complained to a building or housing code agency about a health or safety violation, (2) complained to the landlord about a § 33-1324 maintenance violation, (3) organized or joined a tenants' union, or (4) complained to a wage-price stabilization agency. A complaint within 6 months before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. (A.R.S. § 33-1381)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.