Renter's Privacy Rights in Arkansas
Renter's rights are governed by state laws. In Arkansas, the state provides very few rights for renters. Referring to privacy specifically, state law bars a landlord from changing the locks on your doors, moving your furniture out or turning off your utilities during the eviction process. A landlord can give notice of lease termination for any reason, even if you are a good tenant.
Other People Are Reading
-
Eviction: Unlawful Detainer
-
A landlord can evict you in two ways: unlawful detainer and failure to vacate. For the former, you must have three days written notice. If you don't leave in that time, the landlord can sue you. If this happens, you will get a court summons and have five days to object it. If you don't file an objection within five days, the Sheriff will remove you. If you do object, a hearing will be scheduled.
Eviction: Failure to Vacate
-
If your landlord uses the second eviction method, failure to vacate, you must have ten days written notice. This method will only be applied if you don't pay your rent. If that's the case, you need to leave within the ten days or you can be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $25 per day you remain in the dwelling after the ten-day period. Regardless of the method of eviction used, your landlord can't change the locks, move your furniture, turn off water or power or harass you.
-
Discrimination
-
Discrimination is one of the only areas where Arkansas renters are protected. Landlords cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, handicap, familial status or national origin. This includes barring certain renters based on the above criteria from living in a particular section or floor of a complex.
Security Deposit Law
-
This law gives some added protection for tenants: it applies only to landlordd who are renting six or more properties. You cannot be charged more than two months rent if your landlord requires you to pay a security deposit, and when you move, the landlord is required to return your deposit within 30 days. However, the landlord is entitled to deduct any damages or unpaid rent from your deposit. If this happens, the landlord needs to give you a written, itemized list of the charges within 30 days of your vacating the property.
Types of Agreements
-
Oral and written lease agreements are binding, but it's a good idea to have a written agreement that clearly states each party's responsibilities. Even then, if your landlord doesn't make repairs or live up to the terms of your lease, you need to continue to pay rent while taking the necessary steps to ensure that the landlord fulfills the terms you agreed to. These steps include going to small claims court, renegotiating your lease agreement, moving or talking to a lawyer.
-
References
- Photo Credit apartment for rent image by dead_account from Fotolia.com
