Illegal Termination Of Tenancy Arizona

[Lindsey Jessup]

Problem: I want to get a tenant off of my RSF property. The tenant is living in two of the rooms, I live in another. She is on a month to month verbal contract. I entered into this agreement with a friend, and now she is causing a lot of problems for me. Background: my property flooded due to rain water coming in through the base of my house in August. The tenant has been living with family since then, and I haven't charged any rent in the interim while I made repairs. The house was definitely live able in late November, but now the tenant won't move back in due to a mouse problem saying "it's a health and safety issue". I've tended to the the mice with traps, and had an exterminator come out too. As far as I can tell the problem is taken care of. I sent her 30 days notice via certified mail in late November informing her that I was terminating her month to month lease as of January 1, 2017. She rejected the notice, so I kept it unopened. My question: could this be considered an illegal termination of tenancy in Arizona? I understand there's some laws about retaliation, but I'm having a hard time finding specific statutes to clearing my predicament. I really need to get her out of my property, but she's fighting me the whole way because she won't be able to find housing this cheap in a decent neighborhood. I'm trying to make sure I don't legally bury myself in this mess. Thanks for your time, Lindsey