If a tenant fails to pay rent, what action can a landlord take?

When a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord has the legal right to initiate eviction proceedings. This is a formal process in which the landlord can seek to remove the tenant from the property due to the breach of the rental agreement, specifically the failure to pay rent as agreed. Such proceedings are governed by state law and typically require the landlord to provide the tenant with a formal notice that specifies the amount owed and the timeframe in which it must be paid to avoid eviction.

Other options, such as increasing the rent, do not apply as a remedy for non-payment of existing rent. Furthermore, offering a grace period is not a statutory obligation but rather a voluntary decision made by the landlord; it does not replace the need to enforce the lease terms if rent remains unpaid. Additionally, waiting for a month before taking action is not a requirement under Arizona law. Therefore, initiating eviction proceedings is the most direct and legally supported action a landlord can take in response to non-payment of rent.