When a tenant does not pay the monthly rent, the landlord's first step would be to?

The appropriate first step for a landlord when a tenant fails to pay the monthly rent is to send a 5-day notice for non-payment of rent. This notice serves as a formal written communication to the tenant, indicating that they have not paid their rent and giving them a specific time frame—usually five days—to rectify the situation by paying the owed amount.

This process is important because it follows the legal requirements set forth in Arizona law, allowing the tenant an opportunity to remedy the breach before any further legal action is taken. Sending this notice is a prerequisite step before a landlord can pursue eviction through the courts or initiate a lawsuit. It demonstrates that the landlord is acting in good faith by giving the tenant a chance to pay what is owed before escalating the situation.

The options of filing a lawsuit in justice court or having the sheriff evict the tenant are steps that would come later, only after the proper notice has been given and if the tenant fails to respond or pay the rent. Asking the tenant to vacate immediately also does not comply with the legal procedure and could lead to potential complications for the landlord. Thus, sending the 5-day notice is the correct and legally supported course of action.