Locked Out By The Landlord
A.R.S. 33-1367 — two months' rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater
Two months' rent, or twice the damages. If an Arizona landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water or another essential service, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the rental agreement, and either way recover an amount not more than two months' periodic rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater.
If the tenant terminates the agreement over it, the landlord returns all security recoverable under the deposit section.
Utilities in the lease stay on. A landlord may not terminate utility services provided as part of the rental agreement except as needed to make repairs or after a writ of restitution, and may not shift payment for them to the tenant without the tenant's written consent. A tenant may recover damages, costs and reasonable attorney fees for a violation and obtain an injunction.
After a writ of restitution or execution is executed, the landlord may discontinue utility services the landlord provides on the following day, and only a person authorized by the utility performs the disconnection.
Sources for this section (3)
- A.R.S. 33-1367 — Tenant's remedies for landlord's unlawful ouster, exclusion or diminution of services
- A.R.S. 33-1364 — Wrongful failure to supply heat, air conditioning, cooling, water, hot water or essential services
- A.R.S. 33-1368 — Noncompliance with rental agreement by tenant; failure to pay rent
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Arizona attorney.