Alabama Hotel and Motel Tenant Rights: What Renters Need to Know

Staying in a hotel or motel long-term in Alabama comes with unique rights and responsibilities. While these settings are different from regular apartments, some important renter protections and rules can apply, especially for those who have called their room “home.” Understanding how Alabama law treats hotel and motel guests, including your status as a tenant or transient, is key to protecting your rights.

Understanding Hotel and Motel Tenancy in Alabama

Whether you’re a guest for a few weeks or several months in a hotel or motel, it’s important to know when you become a “tenant.” In Alabama, the difference often comes down to how long you stay, whether the room is your primary residence, and if you receive regular hotel services like cleaning and linen changes.

• Short-Term Guests: If your stay is brief and you get normal hotel services, you’re usually considered a guest—not a tenant. This means hotel owners can often ask you to leave with little notice.
• Long-Term Occupants: If you live in a hotel or motel for an extended period (often more than 30 days) and treat it as your home, Alabama law may recognize you as a “tenant” under certain circumstances. This can affect eviction rights and notice requirements.

Key Legal Protections and Where They Apply

Most traditional landlord-tenant laws in Alabama are found in the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA). However, hotels, motels, and similar accommodations are generally exempt from these laws. The Act specifically excludes transient occupancy such as hotels and motels ^[1]. Still, guest-tenant disputes sometimes arise, especially for long stays where the room serves as your home.

• If you pay rent weekly or monthly, receive mail at the property, or keep your belongings there long-term, you may be considered a tenant by the courts.
• If you’re determined to be a tenant, the owner may need to follow specific notice and eviction rules.

Eviction and Removal from Hotels and Motels

Eviction rules for hotel and motel residents in Alabama depend on your legal status:

• Guests can be asked to leave immediately if they violate hotel rules or fail to pay.
• If you’ve become a tenant (based on a longer-term arrangement or evidence that the room is your primary residence), the owner may need to obtain a court order before eviction.

For tenants, Alabama law requires written notice before starting eviction proceedings and prohibits “self-help” eviction (like locking you out without a court order). Find full details at the Alabama Judicial System court forms page.

Common Forms and How Renters Use Them

• Unlawful Detainer Complaint (Form C-59) – Used by property owners to start an eviction lawsuit against tenants, including those living in hotels/motels for long periods. To defend against eviction, you may file a written answer in court.
  View and download the Unlawful Detainer Complaint (C-59).
  Example: If you are issued an eviction notice after months in a motel room, this is the form the owner would file. You can respond by filing an answer within the time allowed.
• Answer to Unlawful Detainer (Form C-60) – Used by tenants to defend their right to remain in the property. If you believe you were improperly removed or locked out of your long-term hotel/motel room, use this form when responding to an eviction lawsuit.
  View and download the Answer to Unlawful Detainer (C-60).

Who Handles Hotel and Motel Tenant Disputes in Alabama?

For legal disputes about your right to remain in a hotel or motel, the official body is the Alabama Unified Judicial System (District Court). If you need to challenge an unlawful eviction or defend your rights, this is where to file.

Important Steps for Hotel and Motel Renters in Alabama

If you are facing removal from a hotel or motel after a long stay, here are the main actions to take:

• Ask for a written notice stating why you must leave.
• If the owner seeks to evict you and you believe you are a tenant, you have the right to a court hearing.
• File an Answer to Unlawful Detainer (Form C-60) to state your side in court and attach any proof supporting your status (such as payment records, mail receipts, or evidence of long-term stay).

Remember, hotel/motel guests with shorter stays don’t have the same protections as residential tenants, but long-term residents may gain additional rights.

FAQ: Hotel and Motel Tenancy Rules in Alabama

1. When do hotel or motel residents qualify as tenants in Alabama?
   Residents may be considered tenants if they have stayed long-term, made the place their primary residence, and receive few or no hotel services.
2. Can a hotel in Alabama lock you out without notice?
   For short-term guests, yes. But for long-term residents who qualify as tenants, a court order is usually required before removal.
3. What official forms are used in hotel/motel eviction cases?
   Property owners use the Unlawful Detainer Complaint (C-59); tenants can answer with Answer to Unlawful Detainer (C-60).
4. Which court handles hotel/motel tenancy disputes in Alabama?
   The Alabama District Court is the tribunal for these cases.
5. Where can I read the main Alabama law about landlord and tenant rights?
   The Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act covers most residential tenancy matters.

Key Takeaways for Alabama Hotel and Motel Renters

• Short-term hotel/motel guests have limited rights; long-term residents may be protected as tenants.
• Eviction protections apply only for residents recognized as tenants under Alabama law.
• Official eviction and answer forms are available on the Alabama Judicial System website.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Alabama Unified Judicial System – Find court information and resources for unlawful detainer cases.
• Alabama Legal Help – Get free legal aid and guidance for low-income tenants.
• State of Alabama Legislature – View Alabama tenant laws, including the URLTA.

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1. See: Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Ala. Code § 35-9A-102
2. Alabama Judicial System – Court Forms
3. Alabama Unified Judicial System (District Court)

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