HB426 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Joe LovvornRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, landlord duties, smoke alarms required, Sec. 35-9A-204 am'd.
Summary: HB 426 updates the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to require landlords to maintain smoke alarms and provide initial batteries, with tenants handling battery replacement after occupancy, effective January 1, 2020.
What This Bill Does
It requires landlords to keep smoke alarms in good working order and comply with health and safety codes. Landlords must supply batteries for smoke alarms at initial occupancy; after that, tenants are responsible for replacing them. The bill also maintains other landlord duties like keeping the premises and common areas in good condition and allows certain written tenant agreements for specific repairs under conditions, without reducing landlord obligations to other tenants.

Who It Affects
Tenants living in rental properties, who will benefit from maintained smoke alarms and will be responsible for replacing batteries after move-in.
Landlords of rental properties, who must maintain smoke alarms, follow health and safety codes, and provide initial battery supply.

Key Provisions
Landlords must maintain smoke alarms in good and safe working order as part of their duty to supply or maintain facilities and appliances.
Landlords must supply batteries for smoke alarms at initial occupancy; thereafter, the tenant is responsible for replacing batteries.
Landlords must comply with applicable building and housing codes affecting health and safety and keep common areas clean and safe.
For certain dwellings (not single-family), tenants may perform specified repairs or maintenance only if there is a separate signed agreement with adequate consideration, and such agreements must not reduce the landlord's obligations to other tenants.
The act takes effect on January 1, 2020.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act