Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-362
Landlord's lien for rent
Operative Text
A. The landlord shall have a lien on all property of his tenant not exempt by law, placed upon or used on the leased premises, until the rent is paid. The lien shall not secure the payment of rent accruing after the death or bankruptcy of the lessee, or after an assignment for the benefit of the lessee's creditors. B. The landlord may seize for rent any personal property of his tenant found on the premises, but the property of any other person, although found on the premises, shall not be liable therefor. If the tenant fails to allow the landlord to take possession of such property, the landlord may reduce the property to possession by an action to recover possession, and may hold or sell the property for the payment of the rent. C. The landlord shall have a lien for rent upon crops grown or growing upon the leased premises, whether the rent is payable in money, articles of property or products of the premises, and also for the faithful performance of the terms of the lease, and the lien shall continue for a period of six months after expiration of the term of the lease. D. When premises are sublet, or when the lease is assigned, the landlord shall have the same lien against the sublessee or assignee as he has against the tenant and may enforce the lien in like manner.
Under A.R.S. § 33-303 et seq. § 33-362, Arizona law grants landlords a lien — a legal claim — on a tenant's non-exempt personal property located on leased premises until rent is paid. This lien covers crops grown on the property and extends to sublessees and assignees, but it does not apply to property belonging to third parties found on the premises, and it does not secure rent that accrues after the tenant's death, bankruptcy, or assignment for the benefit of creditors. For agricultural leases, the crop lien survives for up to six months after the lease term ends.
Plain English — not legal advice.
A.R.S. § 33-303 et seq. § 33-362 gives Arizona landlords a statutory tool to secure unpaid rent by asserting a lien on eligible tenant property on the premises. Compliant operators typically document which property belongs to the tenant versus third parties before taking any action, since only the tenant's own non-exempt property is subject to seizure. When a lease is sublet or assigned, landlords generally confirm that the same lien rights extend to the sublessee or assignee, and they pursue formal legal action — such as an action to recover possession — rather than self-help measures that could expose them to liability.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
A.R.S. § 33-303 et seq. § 33-362 limits the landlord's lien rights in important ways that tenants should be aware of: the lien cannot attach to property that belongs to someone other than the tenant, even if that property is on the premises, and it does not cover rent accruing after the tenant's death or bankruptcy. Tenants who believe a landlord has improperly seized property — including items belonging to a roommate, guest, or third party — may have grounds to raise that as a defense in court or to file a complaint with the appropriate local authority. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Arizona landlord-tenant law can help clarify what options may be available under this provision.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.