Ala. Code §§ 35-9-1 to 35-9-100 § 35-9-11
Right of Landlord to Enforce Lien Against Sublessees or Assignees.
Operative Text
In all cases when the demised premises shall be sublet, or the lease is assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce his lien against the sublessee or assignee, that he has against the tenant to whom the premises were demised.
Under Alabama Code § 35-9-11, when a tenant sublets a rental property or assigns a lease to another party, the landlord's lien rights do not disappear or diminish. The landlord retains the same lien enforcement powers against the sublessee or assignee that originally existed against the primary tenant. This provision ensures that a change in occupancy through subletting or assignment does not weaken the landlord's ability to secure unpaid rent or other obligations through lien enforcement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 35-9-11, landlords in Alabama who have an existing lien on the demised premises can enforce that lien against a sublessee or assignee just as they would against the original tenant. Compliant operators generally keep clear records of any subletting arrangements or lease assignments so that lien rights can be traced and enforced without interruption. Being aware of who occupies the property at any given time helps ensure that lien enforcement options remain intact regardless of how occupancy has changed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Alabama Code § 35-9-11 means that if you sublet a rental unit or take over a lease as an assignee, the landlord's lien rights follow the property and can be enforced against you in the same way they could be enforced against the original tenant. As a sublessee or assignee, it is worth understanding what obligations were attached to the lease before you took it on, since those lien rights carry over. Tenant-rights organizations in Alabama can help explain what a landlord's lien means in practice and what options may be available if a lien is asserted against you.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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