how to have a lawyer quickly look over my lease

by Prof. Garnet Renner 9 min read

After you get the names of several good prospects (see Finding Lawyers to Review or Negotiate Your Lease), shop around. If you announce your intentions in advance, many lawyers will be willing to meet with you briefly at no charge so that you can size them up and make an informed decision.

Full Answer

Should you hire a lawyer to break a commercial lease?

The very act of hiring a lawyer shows your landlord that you’re serious and can’t be easily pushed around or deceived. Landlords will be less likely to overstep knowing you have a lawyer on hand who can and will initiate legal action at the first sign of wrongdoing. 2. Commercial leases are typically 3 to 5 years in length.

What should I look for when hiring a lawyer?

a brochure describing the law practice and the education and experience of the firm's lawyers, and a "retention letter" or a contract, detailing the lawyer's billing practices and describing the extent of the work the lawyer will do for you. In some states, lawyers must present you with a retention letter or contract.

Why should I hire a lawyer for my rental property?

The very act of hiring a lawyer shows your landlord that you’re serious and can’t be easily pushed around or deceived. Landlords will be less likely to overstep knowing you have a lawyer on hand who can and will initiate legal action at the first sign of wrongdoing.

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer?

(Good) lawyers PAY FOR THEMSELVES. No really, they do. While having a lawyer may initially be an extra expense, he or she seriously has the ability to maximize your return on investment by saving you hundreds or even thousands over the years. Hiring a lawyer (should) cost less than one month’s rent.

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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.

When Do You Need a Lawyer for Lease Breaking?

There are some legal reasons for breaking a lease without getting penalized.

Consequences of Illegally Breaking a Lease

It is important to get a lawyer to guide you through the process of breaking a lease. This is because breaking a lease could lead to consequences such as:

How to Get a Lawyer for Lease Breaking by Yourself

Breaking a lease is a long process with legal consequences. If you intend to break your lease, even with sufficient grounds, it would be best to get a lawyer to guide you through.

Why Use DoNotPay to Get a Lawyer for Lease Breaking

Fast—you don't have to spend much time looking for a lawyer to help you break your lease. DoNotPay will help you get a good one instantly.

DoNotPay Works Across All Companies With the Click of a Button

DoNotPay works across all companies and offers various fast online services. DoNotPay can help you break a lease across all states and can also help you get a lease agreement across all states.

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.

Why do landlords need a lawyer?

1. The very act of hiring a lawyer shows your landlord that you’re serious and can’t be easily pushed around or deceived. Landlords will be less likely to overstep knowing you have a lawyer on hand who can and will initiate legal action at the first sign of wrongdoing. 2.

How long is a commercial lease?

Commercial leases are typically 3 to 5 years in length. That will feel like an eternity if you are stuck with a lease that is seriously skewed to your landlord’s advantage whether its with arbitrary management fees or ridiculous eviction clauses.

What is lease protection?

It's the wording that you have to watch out for. A lease protects the Landlord, so it's favoured in their direction naturally as they are protecting their asset in which they receive cash flow, but a Tenant also has rights they need to be looked after.

Can you sign a multi-million dollar lease without a lawyer?

Anyone considering signing any kind of multi-million dollar long-term lease/agreement including entry/exit clauses without involvement of a lawyer or subject matter expert should not be holding such level of "authority to decide" ...

Do lawyers pay for themselves?

3. (Good) lawyers PAY FOR THEMSELVES. No really, they do. While having a lawyer may initially be an extra expense, he or she seriously has the ability to maximize your return on investment by saving you hundreds or even thousands over the years. Hiring a lawyer (should) cost less than one month’s rent. It’s therefore worth at least seeing if your lawyer can get you a better deal for the length of your lease.

Is commercial lease review affordable?

Commercial lease review services are more affordable than you think, especially if you consider a legal expert from Groundworks Commercial Leasing, which has been called the “UBER” of law firms because there is no overhead or mahogany desks to pay for. You just get quality advice quickly and affordably.

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