At a Glance
| Question | Answer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit limit? | 1-2 months' rent | 1 month if rent ≤ $2,000/month; 2 months if rent > $2,000/month |
| Rent control? | No | No statewide or local rent control |
| Required notice to raise rent? | 30 days | For month-to-month tenancies |
| Lease required in writing? | Yes, for leases > 12 months | Month-to-month can be oral |
| Landlord entry notice? | 24 hours | At reasonable times with 24 hours' notice |
Security Deposits
Alaska law sets tiered limits on security deposits based on the monthly rent amount.
If the monthly rent is $2,000 or less, the landlord may charge a maximum security deposit of one month's rent. If the monthly rent exceeds $2,000, the landlord may charge up to two months' rent.
Landlords must return the deposit within 14 days if the tenant provides a forwarding address, or 30 days if no forwarding address is provided. The return must include an itemized accounting of any deductions.
cite: Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070
Eviction Procedures
Alaska requires landlords to follow the judicial eviction process. Self-help evictions are prohibited. Landlords must file an action for possession (forcible entry and detainer) in court after proper notice.
Notice Requirements
- 7-Day Notice: For nonpayment of rent. The tenant has 7 days to pay in full or vacate
- 10-Day Notice: For material lease violations that can be corrected. The tenant has 10 days to remedy the violation
- 3-Day Notice: For material noncorrectable violations (illegal activity, serious safety violations, or conduct that cannot be remedied)
- 30-Day Notice: For termination of a month-to-month tenancy without cause
Eviction Process
After the notice period expires without cure, the landlord must file a complaint in district court. Only a judge can order the physical removal of a tenant.
cite: Alaska Stat. § 34.03.220
Rent Control
Alaska does not have statewide rent control, and no municipality in Alaska has enacted local rent control ordinances. Landlords may set and raise rent at their discretion, though increases cannot be retaliatory or discriminatory.
For month-to-month tenancies, landlords must provide 30 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect.
Lease Agreements
Alaska follows the Statute of Frauds, requiring leases longer than one year to be in writing. Shorter-term leases, including month-to-month agreements, may be oral but written agreements are recommended for clarity.
Required Disclosures
Alaska landlords must provide the following disclosures:
- Lead-based paint (pre-1978 properties)
- Name and address of landlord or agent: The person authorized to manage the premises and an agent designated for service of process and receiving notices
- Move-in condition checklist: Landlords and tenants should complete a written checklist documenting the condition of the unit at the start of the tenancy
cite: Alaska Stat. § 34.03.080
Tenant Rights
Alaska provides the following protections for tenants:
- Habitability: Landlords must maintain rental units in compliance with building and housing codes, provide working plumbing, heating, electricity, hot water, and ensure structural integrity
- Retaliation protection: Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants who report code violations, exercise legal rights, or organize tenant groups. Retaliatory actions within 6 months of a tenant's protected activity are presumed retaliatory
- Discrimination protection: Alaska Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, and parenthood
- Right to privacy: Landlords must provide 24 hours' notice before entering the unit, except in emergencies
- Repair and deduct: Tenants may arrange for repairs and deduct the cost from rent if the landlord fails to address habitability issues after written notice, provided the cost does not exceed one month's rent