Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603 § 35-9A-102
Purposes; Rules of Construction.
Operative Text
(a) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies. (b) Underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are: (1) to simplify, clarify, modernize, and revise the law governing the rental of dwelling units and the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants; (2) to encourage landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality of housing; and (3) to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among those states which enact it. (c) This chapter shall be construed as applying only to the residential landlord and tenant relationship. The chapter does not create any duties in tort or causes of action in tort, nor does it deprive anyone of any causes of action in tort that may exist apart from this chapter.
Section 35-9A-102 of the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act establishes the foundational purposes guiding how the entire chapter (§§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603) is to be read and applied. Courts and agencies are directed to interpret the law broadly in favor of its goals: modernizing landlord-tenant law, encouraging housing quality, and aligning Alabama's rules with those of other states that have adopted similar legislation. Importantly, this chapter applies exclusively to residential rental relationships and neither creates new tort claims nor eliminates any tort claims that exist independently of the statute.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Alabama's residential landlord-tenant framework should understand that § 35-9A-102 signals that courts will read the chapter's provisions broadly to advance housing quality and clear legal standards. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with the full scope of §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603, recognizing that the law is designed to set uniform expectations for both sides of the rental relationship. Because the chapter is limited to residential tenancies, operators who manage commercial properties should be aware that separate legal frameworks govern those arrangements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 35-9A-102 establishes that Alabama's residential landlord-tenant law (§§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603) is meant to be interpreted in a way that supports tenants' rights alongside landlords' obligations, with a stated goal of improving housing quality. Tenants can take note that courts are instructed to apply this chapter liberally, which can be relevant when a dispute arises over how a particular provision is interpreted. Because the chapter does not eliminate independent tort claims, tenants who believe they have been harmed in ways beyond the statute's scope may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand what additional remedies might exist outside of §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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