If the owner of improvements upon leased school or university lands sold as provided by this article is the purchaser of the lands and is in arrears for rent due under a permit or lease, or if he has failed to take out a permit or to pay rent, then before a certificate of purchase is issued to him he shall, in addition to the payments required by this article, pay to the department all rent for which he is in arrears, and if no rent has been stipulated, he shall be charged for the use and occupation of the land. Interest at the rate of five per cent per annum shall be charged on all such amounts, and added to the amount to be paid. A like charge shall be made against the occupant, if some other party is the purchaser of the land and improvements.
A.R.S. § 37-243