Variation of leases To make a change or 'vary' the terms of the lease, you need to reach an agreement. You should ask a solicitor to set down any changes you agree – for example, regarding the repair of the building or for the lease's insurance provisions – in a deed of variation.
The law requires you first give your landlord written notice of the problem, stating the landlord has 10 days to make the repair(s).
Conditions materially affecting health and safety include (among many other things) inadequate sanitation; hazardous or unsanitary premises; inadequate maintenance; and unhealthy conditions (A.R.S. 9-1303).
For most violations, you must give your landlord a written notice stating they have 10 days to make the repair. If the problem threatens your health or safety, you only need to give the landlord 5 days to make the repair.
What sorts of maintenance must landlords provide? Comply with the requirements of applicable building codes materially affecting health and safety as prescribed in section 9-1303. Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.
But the landlord can't just kick out the tenant, change the locks, or turn off the utilities. The landlord must follow all the steps the law says must be taken. And the tenant should not just stop paying the rent unless the tenant first follows all the steps the law says must be taken.
The problems in need of repair must be serious ones. If the tenant wishes to continue to live in the dwelling rather than leave, the tenant may not simply withhold either all or part of their rent because the landlord has failed to make the required repairs (A.R.S. 33-1368(B)).
The alterations clause in the lease will set out what the tenant can and cannot do, and on what basis. A typical clause will prohibit some types of alterations altogether, for example structural changes or work that alters the external appearance of a building.
Every owner of land, including any person who has a legal or equitable interest in the land, who enters a contract requiring any person to perform labor or professional services or to furnish materials, machinery, fixtures or tools in the construction, alteration or repair of any building or other structure or ...
B. The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by a written notice given to the other at least thirty days prior to the periodic rental date specified in the notice.