Alabama Tenants Struggle: On a recent Wednesday night, we highlighted the grievances of tenants residing in a Hoover apartment complex, expressing their dissatisfaction with the property management. The predominant issue revolves around residents enduring either freezing temperatures within their apartments or facing unaddressed problems. Unfortunately, under Alabama law, tenants find themselves with limited recourse. While State Representative Juandalyn Givan acknowledges the need for more proactive measures, the likelihood of imminent changes remains uncertain.
For residents like Andreka Wills at Cadence at Bluff Park in Hoover, the challenges seem unending. Numerous individuals have shared their apartment woes, ranging from prolonged periods without heating or air conditioning to leaks fostering mold growth, all with seemingly no resolution in sight.
Wills passionately stated, We should be able to have proper maintenance issues handled, and we should have proper livable apartments. I’m paying you all money; these things should be handled.
Regrettably, their pleas often fall on deaf ears as they receive minimal response from the property management. State Representative Juandalyn Givan empathizes, advocating for more significant state-level intervention to assist tenants facing such predicaments. However, various barriers make the timeline for effective help uncertain.
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Givan candidly expressed skepticism, saying, I’m just going to be honest with you, I don’t think that you would ever see again there being something in law that says you’ve got to give heat, you’ve got to fix it, you’ve got to change the carpet, you must under the law, do this or that by way of even painting the inside. She emphasized that, despite the landlord’s shortcomings, tenants are still obligated to fulfill their monthly rent duties.
Givan’s pragmatic advice? Tenants should seek legal counsel or consider relocating. Advocacy groups highlight the imbalance in Alabama law, tilting favorably towards landlords, with no legal requirement for landlords to address repairs.
I just don’t understand why we’re not getting any justice here, lamented Wills. It took me a while to find this place, and it sucks, so we could up and move and be in the same predicament.
Our Reader’s Queries
Is Alabama a tenant friendly state?
Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and Texas boast lower taxes, relaxed security deposit regulations, and streamlined eviction processes, making them ideal for landlords. These states top the list for landlord-friendly places to invest in rental properties.
What a landlord Cannot do in Alabama?
Remember, with a long-term lease, the landlord cannot hike up the rent until the lease ends and a new tenancy beginsunless the lease specifically allows for an increase. In Alabama, landlords are prohibited from unfairly raising the rent based on discriminatory reasons, such as only targeting people of a certain race.
How long does it take to evict a tenant in Alabama?
Eviction timelines differ based on the cause. Alabama has rigid eviction timelines of 7-14 days. Landlords must give notice stating the reason for eviction and the waiting period before pursuing legal action.
What state has the strongest tenant rights?
The research also analyzed eviction rates and laws that protect renters more than landlords as measures of security. Vermont, Delaware, and Hawaii ranked highest for laws favoring renters over landlords, while Georgia, West Virginia, and Arkansas ranked lowest.