what is a landlord tenant lawyer

by Prof. Kasandra Botsford I 10 min read

A landlord-tenant lawyer has experience reviewing documents and going to court on behalf of both landlords and tenants. However, there are some lawyers who work exclusively with tenants. Look for an attorney with experience handling legal issues similar to your own.

Attorneys who practice landlord-tenant law counsel clients and represent parties in residential and commercial lease agreements. They advise these respective parties on legal issues that include rental housing discrimination, property safety, repairs, security deposits and tenant eviction.

Full Answer

How much does a landlord-tenant lawyer cost?

Jun 20, 2016 · Landlord/Tenant law covers all aspects of renting a property. Lawyers can help landlords create an enforceable lease without any illegal provisions. Landlords will probably find landlord tenant attorneys and invaluable source of information regarding the laws for security deposits, repairs and maintenance, and eviction.

What are the rights of a landlord?

Choose a local lawyer that is knowledgeable about landlord-tenant law and has significant experience fighting evictions. Such a lawyer can come up with effective strategies or creative solutions that you might not be aware of—for example, the lawyer could argue that your landlord's eviction was retaliatory (and therefore an illegal eviction ) if the circumstances support such a …

What is a tenant lawyer?

What a Landlord & Tenant lawyer can do for you. A landlord/tenant lawyer can help you win an eviction lawsuit, steer clear of liability, and collect or return a security deposit. Whether you are a landlord drawing up a lease or a renter trying to get back your security deposit, an attorney can assist in cases of all types, especially those involving illegal discrimination, property damage, …

What is a landlord tenant dispute?

Apr 16, 2018 · Landlord Tenant Law. Think of landlord tenant law as a hybrid plant, the result of the mixing of contract law and property law. It contains elements of each, covering almost all aspects of a real property rental arrangement. Generally, landlord tenant law tells you what you must do to enter into a legal rental contract as a landlord or a tenant, what the contract can …

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Your Landlord Is Evicting You

If your landlord serves you with a termination notice that you intend to fight, hiring a lawyer can increase your chance of success. Choose a lawye...

Your Landlord Is Evicting You Without Proper Court Procedures

Landlords must follow eviction procedures set forth by state and local law. If your landlord tries to evict you by taking matters into his own hand...

Your Landlord Discriminates Against You

If you believe your landlord is discriminating against you, you may need a lawyer to stop the illegal actions and help you recover damages for any...

Your Landlord Won't Make Necessary Repairs

If your landlord isn't fulfilling important obligations under your lease and the law, it can lead to major problems. For example, think of the land...

Your Landlord Isn't Fulfilling His Promises

Sometimes, landlords make promises to encourage hesitant applicants to rent from them. For example, if an applicant is concerned about the neighbor...

You've been Injured Or Made Ill

Accidents can happen, even at a well-run rental property. However, if an accident is the result of the landlord's carelessness, you may have a lega...

Your Property Has been Damaged

Sometimes, a landlord's failure to maintain the rental property causes damage to your personal property. For example, a landlord's faulty wiring re...

How to Get A Lawyer's Help

If you are in need of a lawyer, choose one with expertise in landlord-tenant matters. For help in getting a lawyer, read the article "How to Find a...

What is landlord tenant law?

Landlord/Tenant law covers all aspects of renting a property. Lawyers can help landlords create an enforceable lease without any illegal provisions. Landlords will probably find landlord tenant attorneys and invaluable source of information regarding the laws for security deposits, repairs and maintenance, and eviction.

What are the laws for landlords?

Like most of real estate law, landlord/tenant law is governed by the states, which means the rules and deadlines in one state may not be valid in another state. Additionally, many cities have special renting laws that only apply within city limits. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City have rent control laws in place that set limits on how much a landlord can charge for rent, but most other cities within California and New York have no such laws in place. Some cities, such as Washington D.C., have height restrictions on buildings that commercial landlords must consider before building a new property. Since landlord/tenant law varies by area, it is very important to speak with a local attorney if you have an issue with your rental.

What is security deposit?

Security Deposit: Money that the landlord holds for the tenant and uses to repair damage to the rental unit. Eviction/Summary Process; The process by which a landlord may remove a tenant from a rental unit.

What are the legal issues landlords face?

Personal Injury: Landlords have a responsibility to keep the land around their rental units safe. Poorly maintained property may injure tenants and their guests, who may be able to sue the landlord. Toxic Chemicals Litigation: Some properties may expose their occupants to toxic chemicals, such as lead or asbestos.

Is renting a property a business?

Small Business: Some people may find it useful to think of renting properties as a business enterprise. Criminal Law: Landlords have a responsibility to keep crime out of their rental properties. A basic understanding of crimes and the criminal process is necessary to fulfill this responsibility.

What are landlord-tenant laws?

Landlord-tenant legislation comes primarily from the state and local level. These laws govern issues related to eviction proceedings, mandatory landlord disclosures, and security deposit limits. However, some federal laws also apply to landlord tenant relationships, such as the Fair Housing Act.

Renter rights and responsibilities

As a tenant, you are entitled to rights determined by your local laws.

Landlord rights and responsibilities

Landlords also have rights and obligations that apply to them under landlord tenant laws. If tenants fail to hold up their end of the agreement, landlords may have the right to withhold security deposits or initiate eviction proceedings.

What does a landlord-tenant lawyer do?

A landlord-tenant lawyer has experience reviewing documents and going to court on behalf of both landlords and tenants. However, there are some lawyers who work exclusively with tenants. Look for an attorney with experience handling legal issues similar to your own.

What is landlord tenant law?

Landlord-tenant law governs the rental of commercial and residential property. It is composed primarily of state statutes and common law. A number of states have based their statutory law on either the Uniform Residential Landlord And Tenant Act (URLTA) or the Model Residential Landlord-Tenant Code. Further, federal statutory law may be relevant ...

What is the basis of the legal relationship between a landlord and tenant?

The basis of the legal relationship between a landlord and tenant is grounded in both contract and property law. The tenant has a property interest in the land (historically, a non-freehold estate) for a given period of time before the property interest transfers back to the landlord. See State Property Statues.

Can a landlord sue for eviction?

The landlord can sue to evict the tenant. If the court rules to evict, then the landlord must allow a law enforcement officer to enforce the judgment. ​. However, the majority of jurisdictions do not allow for self-help evictions.

Can a tenant transfer her property to a third party?

Subject to limitations expressly stated in a lease, a tenant is typically able to transfer her property interest to a third party. This transfer takes the form of two different actions:

What is privity of estate?

Privity of estate - This refers to the parties actually responsible for the estate. In a sublease, the landlord, tenant, and sublessee are all under privity of estate. In an assignment, only the landlord and sublessee are under privity of estate.

Can a landlord evict a tenant?

A landlord, however, may not evict a tenant in retali ation for the tenant reporting housing violations or other problems with the condition of the property. This is typically referred to as the doctrine of retaliatory eviction. Typically, a landlord has 1 of 2 methods he can use to evict a tenant: Self-help eviction.

What is the ability to transfer interest?

As expressed, the ability to transfer interest is subject to certain limitations established by the lease between the landlord and the tenant. There are typically 3 such clauses which may be used in a lease:

What is tenant rights?

The more you know the law and your legal rights, the better. The Tenant Rights section of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website provides a wide variety of state and local resources, including links to fair housing groups, rent control boards, tenant unions, and legal aid organizations for each state ;

What to do if landlord discriminates against you?

If you believe your landlord is discriminating against you, you may need a lawyer to stop the illegal actions and help you recover damages for any harm you suffered. One option is to hire a lawyer to sue the landlord in court.

What to do if landlord serves termination notice?

If your landlord serves you with a termination notice that you intend to fight, hiring a lawyer can increase your chance of success. Choose a local lawyer that is knowledgeable about landlord-tenant law and has significant experience fighting evictions.

What to do if landlord evicts you?

Landlords must follow eviction procedures set forth by state and local law. If your landlord tries to evict you by taking matters into his own hands—for example, by locking you out, canceling your utilities, or even removing your doors, windows, or possessions—consider hiring a lawyer.

What happens if you don't have renters insurance?

If you have renter's insurance, your insurance company will cover the loss and its lawyers will then seek reimbursement from your landlord. If you don't have insurance or have inadequate coverage and the damage to your property is substantial, consider hiring a lawyer to help you obtain reimbursement from your landlord.

What happens if your landlord doesn't fulfill your lease?

If your landlord isn't fulfilling important obligations under your lease and the law, it can lead to major problems. For example, think of the landlord who keeps putting off needed heating system repairs until winter is well under way, or the landlord who ignores a ground-floor tenant's requests to fix a broken window until a burglary occurs.

What happens if a landlord doesn't maintain the property?

Sometimes, a landlord's failure to maintain the rental property causes damage to your personal property. For example, a landlord's faulty wiring repair job could spark an electrical fire in your living room, damaging your furniture and other belongings.

What is a tenant lawyer?

On the other hand, a landlord / tenant lawyer also helps landlords who have tenants breaking rules, such as moving out three months early or refusing to pay rent. Tenant eviction laws are very specific, with different rules in each city.

What can a landlord/tenant lawyer do?

A landlord/tenant lawyer can help you win an eviction lawsuit, steer clear of liability, and collect or return a security deposit. Whether you are a landlord drawing up a lease or a renter trying to get back your security deposit, an attorney can assist in cases of all types, especially those involving illegal discrimination, property damage, ...

What is landlord tenant law?

Landlord tenant law is the body of laws and regulations that regulate real estate rental contracts in a jurisdiction.

What is the responsibility of a landlord?

In all states, landlords have the responsibility to maintain the premises and fix problems, like a leaking faucet or a broken door, promptly. A landlord who repeatedly fails to do this can be seen as harassing the tenant.

What are some examples of harassment?

Other examples of harassment include refusing to allow tenants to use parts of the property they have used in the past, like the backyard; refusing to acknowledge receipt of the rent check; entering the apartment without proper notice; destroying the tenant's property; and making threats of physical or financial injury.

What is a landlord and tenant?

Landlord and Tenant. An association between two individuals arising from an agreement by which one individual occupies the other's real property with permission, subject to a rental fee.

What is a landlord and tenant relationship?

The landlord and tenant relationship usually refers to a living arrangement. In this respect landlord and tenant law differs from the law regarding leases. In a landlord and tenant relationship, the parties are often referred to as lessor (landlord) and lessee (tenant).

Can a landlord interfere with a tenant's quiet enjoyment?

If a landlord is found to have interfered with a tenant's quiet enjoyment or reasonable use of the premises, the tenant may recover damages.

What happens if a landlord breaches the warranty of habitability?

If a landlord breaches the warranty of habitability, the landlord may lose the right to collect rent from the tenant, and the tenant may lose a place to live.

Can a landlord keep a security deposit?

If the tenant damages the premises, the landlord may keep the security deposit and sue the tenant for damages not covered by the deposit. A landlord must give a tenant notice to vacate the premises if the landlord wishes to rent the premises to another tenant. The landlord may not do this during a rental period.

What is quiet enjoyment?

A concept related to quiet enjoyment is the tenant's right to reasonable use of the premises. Landlords may not substantially interfere with this right. Whether actions by the landlord substantially interfere with a tenant's reasonable use of the premises is determined by the facts of the case.

Can a landlord sue a tenant for damages?

If the lease period expires and the landlord has found a new tenant, but the present tenant refuses to leave the premises, the landlord may sue the present tenant for damages if the landlord could be charging the new tenant more rent. The landlord may also have the tenant evicted by filing suit in court.

What is the Residential Landlord Tenant Act?

If you rent your home you are covered by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18). In a 1985 decision, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the Consumer Protection Act does not cover violations of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. Therefore, we do not handle consumer complaints about issues covered by the Residential Landlord-Tenant ...

How long does a landlord have to give notice of eviction in Washington?

In 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed and Governor Inslee signed legislation which required landlords to provide notice at least 14 days before initiating an eviction proceeding, and created a new notice form that landlords must send to tenants if they fail to pay rent, utilities or another periodic charge that is agreed to in the lease. The 14-day notice informs tenants of the total financial obligation alleged by the landlord. The Attorney General’s Office translated this 14-day notice into 12 languages commonly-spoken in Washington. Twelve translated notice forms translated can be found below. The Attorney General’s Office collected information for tenants about legal and advocacy resources, including immigrant and cultural organizations where tenants can receive assistance in their primary language. These resources can be found here.

When does the eviction moratorium end?

The Governor’s eviction moratorium, Proclamation 20-19.6, will end at 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2021. The State Legislature has passed legislation that provides the legal framework for landlords and tenants concerning evictions and housing related practices after the eviction moratorium. The Governor has provided some interim landlord-tenant ...

What is SB 5160?

For questions about Proclamation 21-09 or how it applies to you visit: SB 5160 is the new legislation passed by the State Legislature earlier this year that provides the Legislature’s new rules for evictions and housing related practices after COVID-19.

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What Are Landlord-Tenant Laws?

  • Landlord-tenant legislation comes primarily from the state and local level. These laws govern issues related to eviction proceedings, mandatory landlord disclosures, and security deposit limits. However, some federal laws also apply to landlord tenant relationships, such as the Fair Housing Act. The landlord-tenant portions of the Fair Housing Actprotect tenants from discrimin…
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Renter Rights and Responsibilities

  • As a tenant, you are entitled to rightsdetermined by your local laws. Renter rights include 1. Obtaining housing without illegal discrimination by the landlord. 2. Quiet enjoyment and use of the property. 3. Security deposit returned, or, if withheld, a written explanation of why. 4. A habitable home, or a home fit for human habitationRepairs assumed by the landlord in the lease made in …
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Landlord Rights and Responsibilities

  • Landlords also have rights and obligationsthat apply to them under landlord tenant laws. If tenants fail to hold up their end of the agreement, landlords may have the right to withhold security deposits or initiate eviction proceedings. Landlord rights include 1. Receiving full, timely payment of rent as agreed in the lease. 2. Charging late fees for overdue rent if specified in the l…
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What Does A Landlord-Tenant Lawyer do?

  • A landlord-tenant lawyer has experience reviewing documents and going to court on behalf of both landlords and tenants. However, there are some lawyers who work exclusively with tenants. Look for an attorney with experience handling legal issues similar to your own. Because landlord-tenant laws vary depending on the city you live in, it's important to find a lawyer who has experie…
See more on avvo.com

Overview

  • Landlord-tenant law governs the rental of commercial and residential property. It is composed primarily of state statutes and common law. A number of states have based their statutory law on either the Uniform Residential Landlord And Tenant Act (URLTA) or the Model Residential Landlord-Tenant Code. Further, federal statutory law may be relevant during times of national/re…
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The Four Basic Types of Landlord-Tenant Relationships

  • The basis of the legal relationship between a landlord and tenant is grounded in both contract and property law. The tenant has a property interest in the land (historically, a non-freehold estate) for a given period of time before the property interest transfers back to the landlord. See State Property Statues. While these four relationship types are generally true, they are subject to state …
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Quiet Enjoyment

  • The landlord-tenant relationship is founded on duties proscribed by either statutory law , the common law, or the individual lease. Basic to all leases is the implied covenant of quiet enjoyment. This covenant ensure the tenant that his possession will not be disturbed by someone with a superior legal title to the land including the landlord.
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Transferring The Tenant's Interest

  • Assignment & Sublease
    Subject to limitations expressly stated in a lease, a tenant is typically able to transfer her property interest to a third party. This transfer takes the form of two different actions: 1. Assignment - The tenant conveys her entire interest in the property to the third party. The third party effectively bec…
  • Privity
    Whenever parties intend a transfer of interest, they should always consider privityof estate and privity of contract: 1. Privity of estate - This refers to the parties actually responsible for the estate. 1.1. In a sublease, the landlord, tenant, and sublessee are all under privity of estate. 1.2. I…
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Eviction

  • Eviction refers to a landlord barring a tenant from using the property, usually due to the tenant materially violating the lease and/or not paying the agreed-upon rent. A landlord, however, may not evict a tenant in retaliation for the tenant reporting housing violations or other problems with the condition of the property. This is typically referred to as the doctrine of retaliatory eviction. Typic…
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Constructive Eviction

  • Constructive eviction is when a tenant leaves the leased property due to the landlord’s conduct that materially interferes with the tenant’s agreed-upon purpose and prevents the property from being in tenantable condition. Constructive eviction is triggered by the landlord’s wrongful conduct. Wrongful conduct may be satisfied by a wrongful omission when the landlord does 1 o…
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Abandonment

  • Abandonment occurs when the tenant meets all 3 of the following factors: 1. The tenant vacates the leased property without justification 2. The tenant has no intent to return to the property 3. The tenant defaults on rent payment To recover for abandonment, the landlord can take 1 of 3 actions: 1. Sue the tenant for all of the rent due 2. Terminate the lease 3. Mitigate damages by acquiring …
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The Implied Warranty of Habitability

  • Housing codes were established to ensure that residential rental units were habitable at the time of rental and during the tenancy. Most states have an implied warranty of habitability. This requires a landlord to substantially comply with building & housing code standards. If the lease contains a clause waiving the implied warranty of habitability, a court will typically refuse to enfo…
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Discrimination

  • Federal law prohibits discrimination in housing and the rental market. See Civil Rights Act of 1866 & 42 U.S. Code, Chapter 45, Federal Fair Housing Act. Neithamer v Brenneman Property Services Inc(1999) is a leading case regarding a landlord discriminating against a potential tenant. The court in that case created a test (shown below) for when a landlord engages in discr…
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