An Alaska lease agreement creates a legally binding relationship between you (the landlord) and your tenant. You agree to rent all (or some of) your property for a fee, and in return, the tenant agrees to the terms and conditions you lay out in the document. Lease agreements must include essential details, such as the amount of rent and security deposit, payment dates and methods, any known health hazards or risks, and whether pets are allowed on the property.
Rental Lease Laws Overview
- Rent Control: No.
- Limit on Late Fees: No.
- Late Fees in Rental Agreement: Yes.
- Grace Period: No.
- License Required for Landlord: Yes.
A rental application is usually required to assess prospective tenants before signing a lease.
By Type (6)
Standard Lease Agreement
Allows a tenant to occupy residential property in exchange for rent.
Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
Facilitates the short-term rental of a property.
Commercial Lease Agreement
Describes the terms and conditions of renting a non-residential space.
Room Rental Agreement
Establishes the rules for multiple tenants living on the same property.
Sublease Agreement
Allows the subtenant to rent all or part of the leased property.
Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement
Enables an added option for the tenant to purchase the property.
Required Lease Disclosures
Landlords in Alaska must adhere to state laws and regulations [1] when renting out their property:
- Disclosure of Lead-Based Hazards. Landlords of any building constructed before 1978 must notify all tenants of the potential existence of lead-based hazards. [2]
- Landlord’s option to withhold security deposits for specific reasons.
- Notice to the landlord for tenant absence from the unit for more than seven days.
- Name and address of the owner of the property and the person authorized to manage the premises.
Security Deposit
- Maximum Amount: A landlord can collect up to two months’ rent for a security deposit from a tenant unless the monthly rent is greater than $2,000. [3]
- Receipts: Not specified.
- Interest Payments: Any interest earned on a security deposit must be paid to the trustor (tenant). [4]
- Bank Account: Required. May hold security deposits and prepaid rent from multiple tenants. [5]
- Returning Requirements: If there’s no damage to the property, and the tenant has provided proper notice to vacate, a landlord must return a tenant’s security deposit within 14 days of the end of the lease. Otherwise, a landlord may return the remaining security deposit within 30 days. [6]
- Withholding Rules: The landlord must disclose the specific terms and conditions for withholding prepaid rent or the security deposit to the tenant.
Rent Payments
- Laws: Rent is due on the specific date outlined in the lease agreement and must be paid at the designated time and location. [7]
- Rent Control: Alaska has no rent control laws. This means landlords can freely increase rent after a lease ends. However, they must follow fair housing rules and give tenants proper notice.
- Late Fees and Grace Period: Alaska places no legal cap on late fees. Landlords can charge either a flat rate or a percentage based on the Federal Reserve discount rate, with a maximum of 10.5% interest-based fee if no discount rate is available. [8] . If the rent is overdue, the landlord can issue a 7-day notice to the tenant, giving them the option to either pay the rent or move out.
- Withholding Rent: If a landlord breaches a lease by failing to provide essential services, tenant may correct issue and deduct cost from rent.
Landlord Right of Entry
- Notice Requirements: A landlord must provide a tenant one day’s advance notice before entering the rental property and only enter at reasonable times. [9]
- Keys, Locks, and Security: Tenants generally need landlord permission to change locks, except in emergencies. If locks are changed due to an emergency, the landlord must be given a new key within five days. [10]
Property Repairs
- Landlord Responsibilities: Landlords must maintain habitable conditions and promptly address tenant repair requests, with timelines varying based on repair severity: 7-14 days to address minor repairs and 1-3 days for emergency repairs affecting health or safety.
- Tenant Repairs: Tenants must maintain the property’s cleanliness, safety, and habitability, including minor repairs and ensuring operational smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Abandonment: The agreement requires tenants to notify the landlord if they’ll be away from the property for seven days or more. [11] If a tenant leaves the property before the lease ends, they are responsible for paying rent for the remaining term unless the landlord manages to re-rent the property. If the property remains vacant, the tenant must cover the rent for the vacant period as per the original lease. [12]
Terminating a Lease
- Month-to-Month Tenancy: Either party must provide a 30-day notice to end a month-to-month lease. [13]
- Unclaimed Property: Landlords must provide 15-day notice for tenants to collect personal belongings after lease termination, with the right to sell valuables and dispose of remaining items if unclaimed. [14]
Sample
Below you can download an Alaska lease agreement template in PDF or Word format:
