Legal FAQs for Renters in Alabama

Contact a legal help organization to help defend yourself.

It is illegal in Alabama for your landlord to evict you without first going to court and getting an eviction order.

To remove you from your home, a landlord must file an eviction lawsuit against you, win the case, and get an eviction order from the court. Legal aid groups might be able to provide you with full representation, or other legal organizations can give you information or brief advice.

Find legal help to protect your rights.

Tell your landlord about any repairs needed, particularly if they affect your health and safety.

You should call your landlord to make the repairs as soon as possible.

Emergency repairs could be for problems with:

• Running water or hot water

• Heat or air conditioning

• Stove, oven, or refrigerator

• Electricity

• Bathroom use

• Missing doors, locks, or windows

• Pests

If your landlord doesn't make the repairs promptly, send them a written letter or email about the need for emergency repairs and keep a copy of this communication.

Find legal help to get advice for your situation.

Most Rental Assistance programs let landlords apply. Either a renter or a landlord can start the application.

The landlord will have to fill in as much information they have about the amount of money needed, and the eligibility for the program. The tenant may have to fill in the rest of the information.

Check with your local Rental Assistance program about the steps to follow to apply for rent relief.

If you are behind on rent, you can get help from your local Rental Assistance program in Alabama. This is a government service to help people who owe rent or utility bills.

Especially if you are behind on rent because of COVID-19 hardships, your local Rental Assistance (or Rent Relief) program can help you.

Find your local Rental Assistance program at your Get Help page here.

Many local Rental Assistance programs are open to everyone, regardless of immigration status. Many programs do not even ask about immigration status.

Check with your local Rental Assistance program to make sure about eligibility rules and immigration.

Local governments set the rules about who is eligible for rent relief. Most programs focus on people who have suffered COVID-19 hardships.

You can talk to your local Rental Assistance program to learn their eligibility rules.

You may have to show your household income, or if you are on other benefits programs like SNAP.

You may also have to show that you are at risk of homelessness or eviction if you don't get rental assistance. Check with your local Rental Assistance program to see if you are eligible.

You may be able to break your lease if you can come to an agreement with your landlord.

Your lease is still valid, even if the Covid emergency is happening. However, you can talk to your landlord to see if they will agree to let you leave early. If they agree, be sure to get the agreement in writing.

Also, you can review your lease. It may have a part that lets you end the lease early in times of financial difficulty. If your lease has this kind of part, you might be able to break the lease, in some cases penalty-free.

Find legal help to get advice for your situation.

Since the emergency protections have expired, then for Alabama renters:

• Your landlord can still give you a notice to quit.
• Your landlord can still file an eviction claim against you.
• The court can still hear an eviction case against you.
• The court can still issue a new order, judgment, or writ of eviction against you.
• Law enforcement can enforce an existing eviction order against you, to remove you from your home.

If you are facing an eviction in Alabama, reach out for help as soon as possible.

Alabama renters must still pay their utility bills during the Covid emergency.

Some companies had said they would not shut off utilities during the emergency to customers in Birmingham, Decatur, Mobile, and Piedmont. Those protections have since expired.

If you need financial assistance for utility costs, you may be able to get help.

Landlords are never allowed to shut off a renter's utilities in an attempt to force the renter out. This is illegal. Reach out to a lawyer for help if this happens to you.

Yes, your rent is still due even during the Covid emergency in Alabama. If you cannot pay rent, take steps to protect yourself:

• Apply for rent help: If you need financial assistance for housing costs like rent or utility bills, you may be able to get help.
• Communicate with your landlord: Send a written letter or email to your landlord as soon as possible. You can also try to negotiate with your landlord to make a payment plan or get a temporary rent reduction. Get help here for drafting and mailing a letter to your landlord. Also check here for another letter-writing tool.
• Get written records of all communication: Keep copies of any letter or email you send, and any responses from the landlord. Keep receipts for any payments you make, that are signed and dated. If you make a payment plan or rent agreement, make sure to get it in writing.
• Keep proof of COVID-19’s impact on you: Collect documents about your COVID-19-related employment problems, health care issues, or other issues that affect your ability to pay rent. This includes letters from your employer, doctor, insurance provider, child care provider, schools, etc.(https://legalfaq.org/covid/al/getHelp/AL)

If you need help when you are behind on rent, reach out to local organizations as soon as possible.

Alabama's statewide emergency protections for renters have expired. Landlords may now try to sue tenants to evict them. If you are worried about an eviction, reach out as soon as possible to your local legal aid group. The lawyers may be able to help you find protections and services to deal with your eviction.

Earlier Protections Alabama Governor Kay Ivey had suspended evictions for non-payment of rent through June 1, 2020. The eviction suspension went into effect on April 3, 2020 and ended on June 1, 2020, according to the Governor's latest proclamation.

Alabama renters may also have had national protections against eviction through the CDC Eviction Moratorium. That expired on August 26, 2021. Read more about those national protections here.

In-person proceedings in Alabama courts have resumed as of May 15, 2020. Some remote proceedings are occurring.

Check with your local courts for more information.