Know your rights and learn what you can do to help yourself
There are 14 resources
General Information
Leases
This article tells you what to look for when reading a lease. Unfortunately, most landlords use leases that don't give tenants many rights. Even if you have little choice, you should know where you stand.
By: Legal Services Alabama
Evictions
If you get eviction papers from the Sheriff, you only have a short time to act. If you do not answer an eviction action quickly, you will end up being put out on the street. This article tells you what you can do to get your day in court and how to put on your best case.
By: Legal Services Alabama
Repairs in Rental Housing
This article tells you what repairs your landlord may have to make. It also tells you what you can do if your landlord does not make those repairs.
By: Legal Services Alabama
Ending Your Lease and Moving Out
Sometimes, you have to move before your lease has ended. When you do, you risk having your landlord sue you for rent for the whole lease term. This article tells you steps you can take to reduce your risk.
By: Legal Services Alabama
Landlord's Lease Termination
Sometimes, landlords want to make you move. This article tells you when your landlord can end your lease. It also tells you what you can do about it.
By: Legal Services Alabama
A Decent Place to Live: Tenant Rights in Alabama Alabama's Landlord Tenant Law spells out what makes a rental dwelling livable and lists the basic rights and duties of both tenants and landlords. This pamphlet outlines the major points covered by the law.
(You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to open this page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Get Acrobat Reader icon to download.)
By: Legal Services Alabama
Una Vivienda Digna: Derechos de los Arrendatarios en Alabama La Ley de Arrendadores y Arrendatarios de Alabama establece cuáles son las condiciones para que una vivienda arrendada sea habitable y enumera los derechos y las obligaciones básicos de los arrendadores y los arrendatarios. Este folleto destaca los aspectos más importantes de la ley.
Spanish version of A Decent Place to Live: Tenant Rights in Alabama above.
(You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to open this page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Get Acrobat Reader icon to download.)
By: Legal Services Alabama
The Alabama Tenants' Handbook The Alabama Landlord Tenant Law became effective January 1, 2007. This handbook will help renters understand and exercise their rights and responsibilities under the new law. This booklet was produced by LSA, Alabama Appleseed and Alabama Arise Citizens' Policy Project.
(You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to open this page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Get Acrobat Reader icon to download.)
By: Legal Services Alabama
Manual de los Arrendatarios de Alabama Spanish version of The Alabama Tenants' Handbook above.
(You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to open this page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Get Acrobat Reader icon to download.)
By: Legal Services Alabama
Rental Assistance
(Separate Website)
Looking for an apartment or house to rent? This page has information on your rights and responsibilities, budgeting, where to get housing assistance and counseling, and more. Read this in: Español By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Tenants: Your Rights When Your Landlord is Foreclosed On
Are you renting an apartment or home that's in foreclosure? A new law, in effect as of May 20, 2009, may protect you. Read this notice for more information.
By: Legal Services Alabama
Answer to Landlord's Claim - Residental Eviction/Unlawful Detainer PS-01
If your landlord is trying to evict you and you disagree with the eviction, read this form and follow the steps on it to try to stop the eviction.
Remember, the deadline is 7 days after the date you got the Statement of Claim.
(You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to open this page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Get Acrobat Reader icon to download.
This form is fillable - you can open it and fill it out right on your computer - just hit your Tab key to start typing in the blanks.)
By: Alabama State Bar
Request to Continue Trial PS-18
Form to be used to request to continue or postpone or "put off" a trial.
(You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to open this page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Get Acrobat Reader icon to download.
This form is fillable - you can open it and fill it out right on your computer - just hit your Tab key to start typing in the blanks.)
By: Alabama State Bar
Save Those Papers!
In order to protect your rights, you may need to use papers others have given you. This fact sheet tells you what papers you should save.
By: Legal Services Alabama
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
AlabamaLegalHelp.org is a project of Legal Services Alabama and the Legal Services Corporation. It is produced in cooperation with Pro Bono Net and legal services organizations, bar associations, community organizations and government agencies throughout Alabama and the United States.