Alaska Landlord-Tenant Laws
It’s essential to follow the Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act when creating your lease agreement, which helps protect landlords’ and tenants’ rights and responsibilities.
Required Disclosures (4)
- Absence
- Landlords Contact Information
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form
- Security Deposit Withholding
Security Deposits
Maximum Limit – Landlords can charge a security deposit not exceeding two months’ rent (including pet deposits if applicable).
Returning – Upon termination of the lease, the landlord must return the deposit within 14 days. If the landlord deducts money from the deposit for damages, the landlord has 30 days to return the remaining amount.
Withholding – Within 14 days of receiving the deposit, landlords must provide tenants with a written notice explaining the conditions under which they may withhold all or part of the deposit. Additionally, the landlord may withhold the security deposit only if they have specified the reasons for withholding it, such as damages caused by the tenant after the lease ended.
Source: § 34.03.070.
Landlord’s Entry
General Access/Legal Notice – Landlords must provide reasonable written notice (typically 24 hours) before entering the rental unit for non-emergency purposes, except in abandonment cases.
Emergency – In emergencies, landlords can enter without notice.
Rent Payments
Grace Period – No Grace Period in Alaska.
Repairs and Maintenance
Landlords are responsible for maintaining the property in a habitable condition. Tenants must notify landlords in writing of any necessary repairs or issues with the property.
Time Frame – The law does not require the Landlord or Tenant to fix a condition in a specified time.
Source: § 34.03.100.
Breaking a Lease
There are a few different ways that the Landlord and Tenant can break the lease in event either party breaks the agreement.
Material Affecting Health and Safety – If a material defect occurs on the property, the Landlord must cure it within ten days after receiving notice from the Tenant. If the breach is not fixed within 20 days, the tenant can terminate the tenancy.
Reoccurrence of Noncompliance – If a prior breach reoccurs within six months of the last breach, the tenant may terminate the lease with ten days written notice.
Source: § 34.03.160.
Evictions
Legal – Tenant has seven days to pay rent in full after receiving notice of nonpayment from the Landlord. If rent still goes unpaid, the tenancy terminates unless the Landlord agrees to extend.
Illegal – Do-it-yourself eviction methods, such as changing locks or shutting off utilities, are unlawful.
Source: § 09.45.090 – § 09.45.105