Landlord Responsibility Statements

Alaska Landlord Responsibility Statement 

Effective Date: November 1, 2025
Jurisdiction: State of Alaska
Applies To: All landlords, property managers, agents, and listing entities using the Tentunit platform for residential rental properties in Alaska (including student, young-professional and family units).

1. Purpose

This Statement sets forth the operational, legal, and ethical standards that landlords must meet when listing properties on the Tentunit platform in Alaska. Use of the platform constitutes agreement to comply with this Statement, the Tentunit Terms of Service, Payment Terms, Fair Housing Policy, and all applicable federal, state, and local law. This document is not legal advice; landlords should consult counsel for full compliance.

2. Listing Accuracy, Transparency & Advertising Standards

Landlords must provide listings that are truthful, complete, current and fully reflective of the offered unit and terms.

Required Disclosures

Each listing must clearly disclose:

  • The monthly rent, lease term (start/end or renewal/notice), and earliest availability date.
  • All up-front and recurring fees: application fees, move-in fees, pet fees or deposits, parking/amenity fees, utility allocation or sub-metering fees.
  • The security deposit amount (or fee in lieu), conditions for return and deduction policy.
  • Utility responsibilities: which utilities tenant pays, which landlord pays; method of sub-metering or allocation if applicable.
  • Unit condition: photographs must reflect the actual unit being rented — model units or substantially upgraded units must be disclosed as such.
  • Screening criteria: income/credit requirements, guarantor/co-signer policy, student eligibility.
  • Availability status: the unit must genuinely be available; if leased or held, listing must be updated immediately.

Prohibited Practices

  • Advertising units that are unavailable or misleading availability.
  • Misrepresenting square footage, bedrooms/baths, unit condition, amenities, view, finishes.
  • Use of “starting at” pricing or teaser rates without clear disclosure of eligibility and availability.
  • Omitting material fees so that renter is misled about total cost.
  • Bait-and-switch: presenting one unit or terms and offering materially different without disclosure.

Legal & Regulatory Anchors

  • Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord & Tenant Act, AS 34.03.010 – 34.03.380.
  • AS 34.03.070 — Security Deposits & Prepaid Rent.

3. Fair Housing & Equal Access

Landlords must comply with federal non-discrimination laws and any applicable state/local overlays:

  • Federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.).
    Landlords must:
  • Apply screening criteria uniformly to all applicants regardless of protected class (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status).
  • Provide reasonable accommodations/modifications for persons with disabilities where required.
  • Avoid discriminatory advertising or screening practices.
  • Maintain documentation of policies, criteria, decisions and accommodation responses.

4. Tenant Communication & Operational Responsiveness

Landlords must maintain professional, timely, documented communication to support student/young-professional renters.

  • Acknowledge listing inquiries, application submissions or maintenance requests via Tentunit (or other documented channel) within 24 hours, with substantive response within 48 hours.
  • Inform applicants of application status and tenants of scheduled entries, inspections, repairs or changes in writing.
  • Keep listings current: update availability, pricing, fees, photos, policies when changes occur.
  • Maintain respectful, non-discriminatory communications. Repeated failure or abusive conduct may trigger removal of listings or account suspension by Tentunit.

5. Lease Execution & Legal Compliance

All leases executed via Tentunit in Alaska must comply with state law and reflect best-practice standards.

Required Lease Elements

  • Written (or documented electronic) rental/lease agreement which includes landlord/agent name & address for notices/service.
  • Clear specification of: rent amount, payment schedule, lease term, renewal/termination terms, security deposit terms, fees, utility responsibilities, screening criteria.
  • Disclosures mandated by statute (e.g., security deposit rules AS 34.03.070).
  • Lease must not include terms allowing unlawful self-help eviction (lockouts, utility shut-off) and must honor landlord obligations under the Act (AS 34.03.090, AS 34.03.100).
  • Termination and notice provisions must adhere to AS 34.03.290 (tenant termination) and landlord termination processes.

6. Habitability, Maintenance & Repair Obligations

Landlords must maintain the leased premises in a safe, clean, habitable condition consistent with AS 34.03.100 and related statutes. Key obligations:

  • Structural integrity: roof, walls, floors, stairways, porches, windows/doors, locks must be maintained in safe condition.
  • Utilities/systems: heating, plumbing, electrical, sanitation must function properly.
  • Life-safety devices: smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms (if required by local code) must be present and operable.
  • Prompt response to tenant repair requests materially affecting health/safety (e.g., lack of heat, plumbing failure, structural hazard).
  • Maintain documentation: repair request date/time, vendor/work order, completion date/time, tenant communication.

Retaliation against tenants for requesting repairs or exercising rights is prohibited under Alaska law. 

7. Entry, Inspection & Tenant Privacy

Landlords must respect tenants’ right to quiet enjoyment and provide entry for legitimate reasons with appropriate notice.

  • Per legal commentary, landlords should give at least 24 hours’ notice for non-emergency entry; during reasonable hours (e.g., 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.) unless the lease provides otherwise or there is emergency.
  • Entry may be made for repairs, inspections, showings, agreed improvements. AS 34.03.090 outlines “Landlord to supply possession of dwelling unit.”
  • Landlord must document: notice sent, date/time of entry, purpose, tenants’ involvement.
  • Offer tenant move-out inspection opportunity or provide condition checklist as best practice even if not specified in statute.

8. Security Deposit Handling & Administration

Alaska’s deposit statutes (AS 34.03.070) provide detailed rules. 

Key Rules

  • Limit: A landlord may not demand prepaid rent or a security deposit in excess of two months’ periodic rent, unless monthly rent exceeds $2,000. AS 34.03.070(a).
  • Additional deposit: For a pet (not a service animal), landlord may demand an additional deposit up to one month’s rent, accounted separately. AS 34.03.070(h).
  • Deposit must be promptly deposited into a trust account in a bank, S&L or licensed escrow agent; landlord must provide tenant the terms/conditions for withholding. AS 34.03.070(c).
  • Upon termination: tenant must give required notice (AS 34.03.290) and possession delivered. If tenant gave proper notice, landlord must mail refund or itemized statement within 14 days; otherwise within 30 days. AS 34.03.070(g).
  • Deductions allowed only for accrued rent & damages caused by tenant’s noncompliance (AS 34.03.120) beyond normal wear and tear. AS 34.03.070(b).
  • If landlord willfully fails to comply, tenant may recover up to twice the actual amount wrongfully withheld. AS 34.03.070(d).

Tentunit Requirements for Landlords

  • Provide a move-in condition checklist both parties sign, with date-stamped photos.
  • Clearly disclose deposit amount, conditions of return, deduction policy and timeframe in listing and lease.
  • Maintain full ledger of deposit accounts, interest (if any), deductions, returns, correspondence.
  • Ensure deposit is held in trust according to statute.
  • Return deposit (or provide itemized statement) in compliance with timeline above.

9. Student-Housing & Young-Professional Specific Standards

Because Tentunit targets student and young-professional renters, landlords must adopt additional standards:

  • Disclose in listing: proximity to campus/university, public transit/parking policy, sub-letting or early-termination policy, renewal or non-renewal terms.
  • Provide digital onboarding materials: move-in guide, utility setup instructions, emergency contact protocol, shared-housing rules if applicable.
  • Avoid predatory practices targeting students/young professionals: excessive fees, misleading promises, forced guarantor without alternatives.
  • Provide accessible communication channels (mobile/app notifications, after-hours support) compatible with student lifestyle.
  • House rules (noise, cleaning, roommate obligations) must align with statutory and lease rights, not conflict with law or limit tenant statutory rights.

10. Documentation, Audit, Compliance & Platform Enforcement

Landlords must operate at institutional-level compliance; Tentunit retains strong enforcement rights.

Record-Keeping Requirements

Landlords must maintain, per property/tenancy:

  • Listing metadata: upload dates, photo version history, fee schedule changes, availability updates.
  • Screening logs: tenant inquiries, screening criteria used, applications received, approvals/denials, communication timestamps.
  • Lease files: executed lease (digital or paper), amendments, renewals, disclosures.
  • Maintenance logs: request date/time, vendor/work order, completion date/time, tenant notifications, photo evidence.
  • Entry/inspection logs: notice sent, date/time of entry, purpose, outcome, attendees.
  • Security deposit records: deposit amount, date paid, trust account ledger, interest (if any), itemized deduction statements, refund date, tenant forwarding address documentation.
  • Communication logs: tenant-landlord messages via Tentunit portal or documented alternative, notices sent (rent increases, inspections, entry, termination).

Enforcement Rights of Tentunit

Tentunit may:

  • Audit landlord compliance without prior notice.
  • Suspend or remove listings for material non-compliance with this Statement, Tentunit policies or law.
  • Freeze or withhold landlord payouts tied to a non-compliant property.
  • Terminate landlord’s platform account permanently for repeated or serious violations.
  • Report landlord violations to Alaska regulatory or enforcement agencies.
  • Seek recovery of damages, attorney fees and enforcement costs caused by landlord non-compliance.

11. Indemnification

Landlord agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Tentunit, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and contractors from and against all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or connected to:

  • Landlord’s breach of this Statement or any Tentunit policy.
  • Landlord’s violation of federal, state or local housing laws and regulations.
  • Landlord’s misrepresentation of listing, unit condition, terms, fees or availability.
  • Tenant claims or disputes arising from landlord acts or omissions.
  • Platform enforcement or regulatory investigations triggered by landlord non-compliance.

12. Governing Law & Reference Statutes

Alaska Statutory References & Resources

Federal Law Foundations

  • Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.)
  • Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (for units built before 1978)
  • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) for eligible tenants