Alaska Housing Lease Agreement

The Alaska Landlord and Tenant Act protects both parties in a rental situation.

In Alaska, a housing lease agreement may simply be known as a lease or rental agreement. The Alaska Landlord and Tenant Act (ALTA) spells out the inherent rights and responsibilities for both parties, which cannot be changed by a housing lease agreement on a house, mobile home, condominium or apartment.

Types

In Alaska, housing lease agreements are not required to be in writing, according to the ALTA. A verbal agreement with payment by the tenant and/or acceptance of a rent check by the landlord will result in a valid lease agreement. Written agreements, however, protect the landlord and tenant from future disagreement or litigation; this is especially true when it comes to late rental payments and refund of security deposits at the end of the lease term.

Contents

An agreement should contain the name and address of the tenant and the landlord or party authorized to collect rents and manage the landlord's interests. It should also indicate a monthly or annual rental terms, the agreed-upon rent and security deposit, as well as where and when the rent should be paid and any late fees. The ALTA suggests specifying who will pay for utilities, maintenance and snow removal, and the inclusion of a lead paint disclosure, if applicable. The agreement may also contain any other reasonable rules or prohibitions imposed by the landlord.

Prohibitions

The act prohibits certain items from being in the lease agreement, including requiring either party to waive their legal rights, requiring the tenant to pay the landlord's attorney fees, limiting liability of either party for the agreement, requiring tenant to pay rent if the property is not maintained as required by law, and allowing the landlord to take the tenant's personal belongings.

Landlord Responsibilities

Regardless of what is written in a housing lease agreement, the landlord is required give the tenant a copy of any written agreement. The landlord must also have property ready for the tenant's move-in when agreement takes effect, maintain the premises in a fit condition, give adequate notice of rent increases or demand that the tenant move out after the lease term has expired, and return the tenant's security deposit and/or an accounting of damages incurred by tenant.

Tenant Responsibilities

The tenant is required to keep the property in a clean and safe condition, dispose of garbage and use the facilities in a reasonable manner. He is also not to change the locks on the door without the landlord's written permission. Unless the property is rented for an amount over $2,000, according to the ALTA, the tenant is not required to maintain or repair "facilities and appliances normally maintained by the landlord."

Termination

Leases typically specify conversion to a month-to-month agreement at the end of the initial term, but this is something the parties should decide on when signing a lease. If either party wishes to end the lease when or after the lease term expires, the ALTA states, they must give written notice, 30 days in advance.

References

• Alaska Court System: Alaska Landlord and Tenant Act