{"data":{"id":"us-al/ala.-code-35-9a-501","jurisdiction":"us-al","citation":"Ala. Code § 35-9A-501","heading":"Retaliatory Conduct Prohibited.","body":"(a) Except as provided in this section, a landlord may not retaliate by discriminatorily increasing rent or decreasing services or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession because:\n(1) the tenant has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building or housing code of a violation applicable to the premises materially affecting health and safety;\n(2) the tenant has complained to the landlord of a violation under Section 35-9A-204; or\n(3) the tenant has organized or become a member of a tenant’s union or similar organization.\n(b) If a landlord acts in violation of subsection (a), the tenant is entitled to the remedies provided in Section 35-9A-407 and has a defense in any retaliatory action against the tenant for possession.\n(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a landlord may bring an action for possession if:\n(1) the violation of the applicable building or housing code was caused primarily by lack of reasonable care by the tenant, a member of the tenant’s family, or other person on the premises with the tenant’s consent;\n(2) the tenant is in default in rent;\n(3) compliance with the applicable building or housing code requires alteration, remodeling, or demolition which would effectively deprive the tenant of use of the dwelling unit; or\n(4) other material violations of the lease.\n(d) The maintenance of an action under subsection (c) does not release the landlord from liability under subsection (b) of Section 35-9A-401.","path":["Title 35 Property.","Chapter 9A Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.","Article 5 Retaliatory Conduct."],"source_url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=35-9A-501","current_through":"Act 2026-611","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T14:01:52Z","sha256":"342de3369b6dcbe3bf4ddec86dd1313edee242932f02602fece5e95f9a315445","source_id":"us-al","stale":false,"prev":"us-al/ala.-code-35-9a-461","next":"us-al/ala.-code-35-9a-601"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}