Alabama

The Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AURLTA) govern the relationship rules for landlords and tenants in Alabama.  ^[1]

Landlords in Alabama may charge any amount for a security deposit and must be returned (minus any deductions for damages) to the tenant after vacating when the lease ends. ^[2]

• 60 Days – Amount of time landlord has to return deposit. Tenant may sue up to double the security deposit amount if landlord holds for more than 60 days.
• Deductions for damages must be written on an itemized list and given to the tenant.
• Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from security deposit.

Both landlords and tenants have special rights to cancel a lease if there is warrant to do so, with the landlord having more powers than the tenant.^[3]

• Landlord’s Ability to Terminate
  • 7-day notice to pay or be evicted.
  • 14-day notice to fix a violation or be evicted.
• Tenant’s Ability to Terminate
  • With proof of domestic violence, a tenant can terminate the lease early.
  • Provide 30-days notice to terminate if the lease is month-to-month.

• The landlord is required to make repairs (upon written notice from the tenant) and maintain an habitable living environment, failure to do so allows the tenant to the following:
• Terminate lease or seek damages if repairs aren’t made 14 days after delivering written notice.
• Tenants who decide to fix repairs with their own money are not legally entitled to deduct the cost from their rent payment.^[7]

1. Lead-Based Paint Disclosure & EPA Brochure – This disclosure form and EPA brochure are required for all properties built before 1978.^[8]
2. Owner/Manager/Landlord Identification and Mailing Address – The agreement must include this individual’s full legal name and mailing address for tenant notices.^[9]
3. Abandonment (conditional) – If the Landlord requires notification when the Tenant will be absent from the rental property for more than 14 days, it must be written in the lease agreement contract.^[10]

The Alabama Forest Owners’ Association, Inc. provides land that is available for lease on website.^[11] To list hunting land for lease (for free) mail listing information to:

AFOA Hunting Land,
P.O. Box 361434,
Birmingham, AL 35236.

• Absence – It must be written in the lease agreement if Landlords required Tenants to give notice if they’ll be absent for more than 14 days. ^[13] The Landlord can enter the property during absences.^[14]
• Breaking the Lease – The Landlord can charge rent and damages if the Tenant leaves early but must try to re-rent the unit. ^[15]
• Utility Shutoff – The property is considered abandoned when utilities are off for seven (7) days.^[16]
• Unclaimed Property – Items left behind after 14 days are considered abandoned and the Landlord can get rid of them.^[17]

• Birmingham-Hoover [zillow.com] – $998 (Efficiency) to $1,791 (4-Bedroom)
• Huntsville [zillow.com]- $928 (Efficiency) to $1,964 (4-Bedroom)
• Mobile [trulia.com]- $812 (Efficiency) to $1,464 (4-Bedroom)

• Montgomery Area [zillow.com]- $848 (Efficiency) to $1,665 (4-Bedroom)
• Dothan Area [realtor.com]- $718 (Efficiency) to $1,384 (4-Bedroom)
• Tuscaloosa Area [zillow.com]- $916 (Efficiency) to $1,509 (4-Bedroom)

• Lowest – Marion County [realtor.com] $523 (Efficiency)
• Highest – Huntsville [apartments.com]/Daphne-Fairhope-Foley [zillow.com] – $1,975 (4-Bedroom)