{"id":371713,"date":"2017-10-18T11:34:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T16:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arkansas-law\/arkansas-tenant-rights-laws.html"},"modified":"2017-10-18T11:34:00","modified_gmt":"2017-10-18T16:34:00","slug":"arkansas-tenant-rights-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arkansas-law\/arkansas-tenant-rights-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arkansas Tenant Rights Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arkansas Tenant Rights Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Signing a residential lease is a huge decision, and before doing so it’s a good idea to understand your legal rights and obligations as a tenant. If you are considering becoming a tenant in Arkansas, or if you are experiencing conflict with your landlord, read on to learn more about your legal rights.<\/p>\r\n

Arkansas Tenants Rights Overview<\/h2>\r\n

Like all other states, Arkansas has laws governing the relationship between landlords and tenants. This includes provisions limiting how much a landlord can require you to pay as a security deposit<\/a> and how long your landlord has to return your security deposit after you move out. Arkansas law also requires your landlord to provide a certain amount of notice before increasing your rent.<\/p>\r\n

There are also some areas that Arkansas chooses not to regulate. For example, in Arkansas landlords have the right to end your tenancy at any time, even if you are a model tenant. Also, Arkansas law follows the axiom of "caveat lessee" – renter beware. This means that a tenant accepts the rental property "as is" and the law places no explicit obligation on a landlord to maintain the unit<\/a>. Arkansas also doesn’t recognize a tenant’s right to "repair and deduct;" and if a landlord fails to make agreed-upon repairs, a tenant’s only remedy is small claims court.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Security Deposits<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • Landlord can’t require more than two months’ rent as security deposit<\/li>\r\n
  • Security deposit or itemized list of deductions must be provided within 60 days of tenant move-out<\/li>\r\n
  • A landlord that wrongfully withholds a security deposit may be liable to the tenant for twice the amount of the deposit plus court costs and attorney’s fees<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Paying Rent<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • Landlord must provide notice of at least one rental period before raising rent<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Living Conditions<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • Typically, tenant takes rental unit "as is," and landlord is not required to make additional repairs, although landlords must comply with building and health and safety codes<\/li>\r\n
  • Tenants have a right to quiet enjoyment of rental units, and it’s constructive eviction for a landlord to interfere with that right<\/li>\r\n
  • Tenants don’t have the right to "repair and deduct," if a landlord fails to make agreed-upon repairs, tenant’s remedy is small claims court<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Discrimination<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • It’s illegal for an Arkansas landlord to discriminate against a tenant on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, familial status or national origin<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Ending or Renewing a Tenancy<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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  • Landlord has the right to give notice of the termination of a lease for any reason<\/li>\r\n
  • Notice of the termination of a lease must be provided in conformity with a written lease, or one rent period in advance if the lease is oral<\/li>\r\n
  • If tenant fails to pay rent, landlord can serve a 3 day notice to pay or quit<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Retaliation<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n