I get these questions a lot. So much, in fact, that a blog post on these specific issues is warranted.
1. Can a residential tenant terminate a lease within 3, 5, 10 or some other number of days after signing the lease?
No. That one is simple enough. There is no statute and no case that gives tenants this right. Nevertheless, there is an exception. If the written agreement specifically gives the tenant that right (i.e., "Tenant may cancel this agreement within three days" or "Subject to review and approval by Tenant's attorney within the next three days" or some similar language), then the tenant can cancel the lease.
2. Can a residential tenant terminate a lease if the tenant loses his/her job?
No. The only exception is (as above) when the written agreement specifically gives the tenant that right.
3. Can a residential tenant terminate a lease if the tenant loses his/her job?
No. Starting to see a pattern here? Unless the written agreement specifically gives the tenant that right, once the tenant signs the agreement, the tenant is bound by the agreement.
4. Can a residential tenant terminate a lease if there is crime in the area?
No. Crime is everywhere; there is no statute or case that allows a tenant to terminate a lease because of crime in the area. HOWEVER, if the landlord marketed the property as being in a "crime free" area or made some other representations about the complete absence of crime in that area, complex, etc., AND it turns out that the area had a high crime rate, then the tenant would likely be able to terminate the lease -- NOT because there was crime in the area, but because the landlord had "misrepresented" the premises to the tenant. (See A.R.S. Section 33-1361). Similarly, if the landlord misrepresented some other "material information," then the tenant may be able to terminate the lease based upon that misrepresentation. (See A.R.S. Section 33-1361).
5. Can a residential tenant terminate a lease if the tenant is the victim of a crime?
Maybe. The Act, Section 33-1318 (which became effective August 2007), allows a tenant to terminate a lease -- without any financial penalty whatsoever -- if the tenant is a victim of domestic violence and the tenant sends a written request to the landlord to be released from the lease within thirty days after the incident. The tenant must also provide the landlord with evidence of the incident. There is no other statute or case that allows a tenant to terminate a lease if the tenant is the victim of a crime when the crime IS NOT domestic violence.
