Alaska Landlord-Tenant Law

Jeanne Sanford | September 1, 2024 | 9 min read

Last updated September 1st, 2024

If you’re looking for somewhere remote, then Alaska is it. It takes the cake for the largest state and the least densely populated, and almost half of the state’s population lives in Anchorage. Alaska is also great for those looking to relocate because there is no state income tax and no sales tax in Anchorage. The housing market is also on an upswing, which is excellent news for investors.

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Laws that impact the rental market, landlords, and tenants are constantly being decided in states. Make sure you know what’s on your ballot – find Alaska voting information.

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Alaska Renters’ Rights and Landlord Responsibilities

Have 30 days to return security deposit
A 30-day notice required before raising rent
Must give a 24-hour notice before entering
Required to make repairs within 10 days

When it comes to Alaska rental laws, there are a few specifics landlords need to know:

Security Deposit – Alaska limits the amount a landlord may charge for the security deposit to the equivalent of two month’s rent. Landlords must return the deposit within 30 days of the tenant moving out.
Raising Rent – Landlords in Alaska may increase the rent to any amount for any reason with a 30-day notice.
Notice of Entry – Alaska requires landlords to give a 24-hour notice before entering the property.
Repairs – It is the landlord’s responsibility to keep the rental in safe and healthy living conditions. Landlords must make repairs within 10 days after being notified by the tenant. If the landlord fails to make repairs within this time frame, tenants may make the repairs themselves and deduct the cost from their future rent payments.

Overdue Rent – If a tenant fails to pay rent on time, the landlord must give them seven days’ notice to pay or quit. If the tenant fails to pay, the landlord may file for eviction.
Terminating a Lease – If a tenant needs to terminate a month-to-month lease, they must give the landlord a 30-day notice.
Tenant Responsibilities – Tenants are required to keep the property clean, not disturb neighbors, and make small repairs.
Abandoned Property – If a tenant moves out and leaves personal property, the landlord must notify them and store the property for 15 days. After this period, the landlord may dispose or sell the property however they see fit.

Rental Application Fees

There are no additional rental application fee laws in Alaska.

Criminal Background Check

HUD (Federal) laws do not classify criminal backgrounds as a protected class, but making a decision to rent based off a criminal background alone could lead to a discrimination charge as it impacts certain protected groups of people disproportionately.
- However, if the criminal background check revealed a crime for the manufacture and distribution of drugs, homicide and/or stalking, denying the application is allowed.
Landlords should have a consistent and equal policy or procedure in place to follow regarding criminal background checks so as not to discriminate against one class of people over another.
HUD states that a landlord cannot ask about arrest records, only convictions, as innocent people are commonly arrested though the situation may not have resulted in a conviction.
Some municipalities may have written their own laws expanding onto what you can and cannot ask regarding criminal backgrounds during the tenant screening process.

Security Deposits

Security deposits must be placed in a trust account within a bank, savings, and loan or licensed escrow agent.
Security deposit must be returned within 14 days if there are no deductions or within 30 days if there are deductions.

Discrimination

Alaska has added protections based on pregnancy and marital status.

Lease Agreement Disclosures

Tenants must notify the landlord if they’re absent from the unit for seven or more days.

Landlords must disclose any reasons where they can withhold from the security deposit within the lease.

Alaska Lease Agreement Example

There are three sections to a residential lease agreement. The first section outlines the custom details of the contract, such as who’s involved and for what address. Here’s an example Alaska lease agreement listing details found in Section 1:

Property Address:	1200 Broadway Ave. Unit #104 Juneau, AK 99801
Lease Start Date	3/01/21	See section 1.5
Lease End Date:	2/28/22	See section 1.5
Total Monthly Rent:	$1,620.00	See section 1.6
Monthly Base Rent:	$1,500.00	See section 1.6
Monthly Pet Rent:	$120.00	See section 1.6
Prorated Rent Amount:	$1,000.00	See section 1.10
Total Deposit(s):	$1,500	See section 1.8
Security Deposit:	N/A	See section 1.8
Pet Deposit:	N/A	See section 1.8
Other Deposit:	N/A	See section 1.8
Total Non Refundable Fee(s):	$100.00	See section 1.9
Move-in Fee: Description	$100.00	See section 1.9
Late Fee:	5% if not paid by the 5th.	See section 2.1

Can You Withhold Rent in Alaska?

Tenants may repair and deduct the cost from their rent payments if their landlord fails to make requested repairs.

How Long Does it Take to Evict a Tenant in Alaska?

Evicting a tenant in Alaska can take anywhere from one to two months, depending on the reason for eviction.

Is Alaska a Landlord-Friendly State?

Alaska is a landlord-friendly state because of the lack of rent control laws.

What is the Eviction Process in Alaska?

There are six reasons a landlord may file for eviction in Alaska. The six reasons include failure to pay rent, violation of the lease agreement, the end of the lease term, failure to pay utilities, failure to allow landlord access, and illegal activity. Depending on the violation, the landlord must give the tenant notice and anywhere from 7 to 10 days to cure their violation.

If the tenant fails to cure or quit, then the landlord may file a complaint with the court, which costs $250. After the complaint is filed, it will be served to the tenant at least two days before the hearing.

After the tenant is served with the summons, the hearing will be scheduled within 15 days of the complaint being filed.

If the court rules in favor of the landlord, then a writ of assistance will be issued within a few hours to a few days. The tenant will then need to move out within a specified amount of time.

How Much Notice Does a Landlord Have to Give a Tenant to Move Out in Alaska?

Landlords must give a 30-day notice before asking a tenant to vacate the property.

Due Diligence and Alaska Rental Laws

TurboTenant has utilized many municipal sources along with official state statutes in order to compile this information to the best of our ability. However, local laws are always in flux, and landlords and tenants alike should do their due diligence and consult legal help when it’s needed. We hope the following list can serve as a valuable resource and allow you to succeed as a landlord or tenant in Alaska. Be sure to take proper precautions when it comes to finding the top candidates for your unit by utilizing our online rental application and tenant screening services.

Disclaimer: TurboTenant, Inc does not provide legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. All users are advised to check all applicable local, state, and federal laws, and consult legal counsel should questions arise.