Kris Mayes launches ad campaign to teach Arizona renters when they’re being discriminated against

PHOENIX — Arizona’s top attorney is launching an ad campaign to spread awareness about rentals’ legal rights and combat housing discrimination.

The purpose of the campaign is to highlight predatory housing practices. The ads will be in both English in Spanish, and they’ll pop up across streaming services, radio and online platforms.

The office of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has also released a series of flyers telling renters when their landlord is breaking state laws.

“Every Arizonan deserves to be treated fairly and equally under the law when securing housing,” Mayes said in a Monday news release.

How will ad campaign fight housing discrimination in Arizona?

Her ads will educate state residents about the Arizona Fair Housing Act and all the rights it grants them.

For instance, Mayes wants Arizonans to know that it’s illegal for them to be denied housing if they have emotional support animals or disabilities.

She also wants to make sure residents across the Grand Canyon State know it’s illegal for them to face retaliation for reporting discrimination.

She’s also sounding the alarm about the illegality of landlords demanding sexual favors for repairs.

Another one of the rights she wants to make sure Arizonans know about is the fact that it’s illegal for people to be forced to pay higher deposits due to their familial status.

My office is committed to combating housing discrimination and ensuring that all renters understand their rights.

Full press release here: https://t.co/FSK7ZvH96X pic.twitter.com/2ZJ7iNrC0y

— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) October 7, 2024

“My office is committed to ensuring that all residents understand their rights, recognize what constitutes illegal discrimination, and know what steps to take if they have been discriminated against,” Mayes said.

This isn’t the first time Mayes has taken on predatory housing practices.

Earlier this year, she filed a lawsuit against nine landlords and a software company she accused of colluding to fix rent prices. She said they exacerbated the state’s affordable housing crisis.

Advice for Arizonans to steer clear of predatory housing practices

Mayes’ announcement for her ad campaign against housing discrimination included a list of tips for renters to follow for self-protection.

For instance, she advised renters to save important documents, such as their lease agreement and any addenda.

She also said renters should save important documents, copy their communications, track financial transactions, get written proof and document the condition of their property through photos and videos.