AR SB594

Establishes implied residential quality standards for all lease and rental agreements entered into or renewed after November 1, 2021, requiring dwelling units to have hot and cold running water, electricity, potable drinking water, sanitary sewer systems, functioning roofs, and functioning heating and air conditioning systems.

Exempts landlords from implied quality standard requirements when defects result from acts of God, public utility service failures, force majeure events including epidemics or pandemics, or tenant-caused damage.

Requires landlords to provide tenants with a written defect checklist at the time of possession; tenants must return it within 2 business days or forfeit the right to claim pre-existing defects.

Gives tenants 30 calendar days after written notice to request landlord remedies noncompliance; if rent is current and landlord fails to fix the issue, the tenant's sole remedy is lease termination without penalty and security deposit refund.

Prohibits tenants from offsetting or withholding rent for violations of implied quality standards and clarifies that these provisions do not limit landlord remedies for tenant defaults under lease agreements.