how long to review a lease with a lawyer

Full Answer

Do you need a lawyer to review a preprinted lease?

In fact, a preprinted form should be reviewed very carefully, because its provisions will probably greatly favor the landlord. You may want to ask a landlord-tenant attorney to review the lease agreement with you before you sign it. An experienced lawyer who practices in this area will be able to: Suggest changes and additional terms.

How long does a lease usually last?

How long does the lease run? One year is typical, but some landlords rent month-to-month, which gives both the tenant and the landlord great flexibility. A month-to-month is ideal if you are living someplace for a short time, if you are in school and move home when school is not in session, or if your job requires you to move a lot.

How much does it cost to hire a commercial lease lawyer?

Sometimes a lawyer will quote you a flat fee for a specific job—for example, the lawyer may offer to review your commercial lease for $450. In a flat fee agreement, you pay the same amount regardless of how much time the lawyer spends on the particular job.

Do I need a lawyer to sign a lease agreement?

You may want to ask a landlord-tenant attorney to review the lease agreement with you before you sign it. An experienced lawyer who practices in this area will be able to: Suggest changes and additional terms.

How much does a lawyer charge per hour?

Paying your lawyer by the hour is the most common method. In most parts of the United States, you can get competent services for your small business for $150 to $250 an hour. Most lawyers bill in six-, ten-, or 15-minute increments. Understand that these are the smallest “chunks” of time that the lawyer will bill for, even if a given task actually took less time. For example, a lawyer who bills in six-minute increments will charge you for the full six minutes even though a particular phone call lasted only two.

Do lawyers charge for photocopying?

Lawyers may charge you for more than just the value of their services. Typically, lawyers charge clients for costs that are not included in the lawyer’s normal office overhead, such as travel, hiring experts, time spent on online legal research databases, or other consultants—and some even charge for photocopying! Be sure to find out whether you will be charged for itemized costs and, if so, what they are and how much you’ll pay.

What happens if you break a lease?

The lease may have a provision saying that if you break the lease you will automatically have to pay the landlord a stated amount of money. This kind of provision is called a "liquidated damages clause.". It means that the landlord will not have to prove the actual amount of money damage your breach would cause.

What is a lien on a property?

Watch out! A "lien" is a right to claim somebody else's property if any stated condition, such as nonpayment, occurs. The lien will give the landlord the right to take your property away to satisfy your debt without having to prove to anybody that you have failed to pay or that the landlord has suffered a monetary loss.

Can an automatic lien be enforced?

While most courts would decide that the automatic lien provision could not be enforced, it's easier on you if that clause isn't even in the lease. TIP: Do not rely on the landlord's spoken promise not to enforce some provision, such as the no-pets provision.

Is real estate complicated?

Real estate laws can be complicated, especially if your lease contains provisions with legal jargon. In such cases, it may be worth your time to speak to an attorney familiar with landlord-tenant laws before signing a lease to ensure your rights are protected.

Is a lease a contract?

A lease is a contract, so you will want to understand what it says and how it will affect you. And because a lease is a contract, you may be able to negotiate changes to it, even if it is a preprinted form. In fact, a preprinted form should be reviewed very carefully, because its provisions will probably greatly favor the landlord.

Nancy L. Lanard

My firm handles commercial retail/shopping center leases of that type. We charge a flat fee for the review, revision and negotiation of the lease. If you contact me via telephone (215-525-1165 x101) I can provide the exact cost to you, with no hidden charges...

Stephen Samuel Messutta

It's not only the "review" but really the way to control costs is to help you identify particular areas of concern to you that you may want the attorney to negotiate harder on.

Erik Anderson

I agree with the attorneys above. Clients often confuse the size of the rental space with the cost of reviewing a lease. While your attorney may be able to spot issues relatively quickly, the negotiating position taken by the land lord may make the process for time consuming. This in turn results in a larger legal bill...

Brian C Shea

Both of the answers already posted by other attorneys describe good points to consider. Many clients think that a lease for a relatively small space shouldn't take very long to review and negotiate. Having reviewed hundreds of leases, I know that is often not the case.

K Shaylan Baldwin

I agree with the above response...it's just really tough to tell until you see the proposed lease from the landlord. Depending on the size of the shopping center, there can be some considerable negotiation on exclusions from Common Area Maintenance obligations, review of exclusives, etc.

Matthew Allan Quick

It would depend on the length of the lease and any needed clarifications.

Leslie A. Margolies

I agree with Mr. Gross. There is no specific law regarding that issue but you should definitely schedule a consultation with a lawyer if you have questions regarding the lease before you sign it. Too often people just sign without reading it and without consulting a lawyer...

Andrew Mark Gross

There is no law in Pennsylvania that governs how long a tenant has to review a lease before they have to sign it. It is not clear from your question if you are an existing tenant and the landlord has asked you to sign a lease renewal or if you are an applicant who is applying to rent a property.

What can a lawyer do for you?

Here are some of the important things a good lawyer can do for you: Spot subtle (or even not so subtle) variations on a lease clause you are familiar with, and explain its meaning to you. Warn you of hidden problems (or windfalls) in the lease that aren't-obvious to the unprofessional eye.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a lease?

While it's true that hiring a lawyer will add expense and perhaps time to your lease negotiations, in the long run it can be worth it.

Do lawyers specialize in real estate?

Most lawyers who don't specialize in real estate have only limited experience in landlord-tenant legal issues—and even those with some experience may know only about residential tenancies. So if you just pick a name out of the phone book or go to the lawyer who prepared your will, you may wind up with someone who's less than ideal for handling commercial lease issues.

Should I Have a Lawyer Review My Apartment Lease?

Getting a residential or commercial lease might be common now., but there are still a lot of aspects we might not know about them. If your lease for any rental property, like an apartment, has enough value, a legal review is in order.

1. Making Sure of an Accurate Lease

A lease for commercial real estate could be a large document with loads of information. A residential lease will probably be much simpler, but it might still have a lot of problematic ideas hidden inside all that jargon.

2. Catching Out Bias

There are certain times or chances when a landlord can increase your rent. Your lease agreement should not be making you pay rent at higher rates than is reasonable.

3. Getting the Best Terms Possible

Lawyers are known for their negotiating skills. So, your attorney should be able to get some better terms for your lease agreement.

4. Double-Checking Every Term

Even if you’ve been to law school yourself, the terms and clauses for real estate might not be perfectly clear.

5. Determining the Length of a Lease

A residential agreement is a legal contract between the landlord and tenant. Lease agreements like these are applicable when you rent a place for living purposes.

6. Understanding Landlord Duties

While most lease agreements do benefit the landlord more, a real estate attorney knows the benefits you are entitled to.