what kind of lawyer do i need to look over lease agreements

Are leases agreements negotiable?

When you sign an agreement to lease an apartment, you are entering into a legally binding contract with your landlord. Like all contracts, the terms you agree on are negotiable. Understanding your rights and the negotiating process will help you to sign a lease with more favorable terms.Jan 4, 2010

What is a lease checklist?

Basic Terms Of The Lease The lease should list the names of each person entering the agreement with the landlord and how many adults and children will occupy the unit. The lease should also specify a start and end date. The amount of rent and security deposit the tenant agrees to pay should also be included.

What are the different types of leasing agreements?

Different Types of LeaseFinancial Lease or Capital Lease. It is a lease which involves payment for a longer period of time. ... Operating Lease. ... Conveyance Type Lease. ... Leveraged and Non-Leveraged Lease. ... Tax-Oriented Lease. ... Non-Payout and Full Lease. ... Sales Aid Lease. ... Net and Non-net Lease.More items...•Aug 1, 2019

What four things will be in the rental agreement?

What Makes California Lease Agreements Unique?Security Deposits. ... Specific Payment Requirements. ... Late Rent Fees. ... Rent Increases. ... Notice of Entry. ... Rental Agreement Disclosures. ... Gas and Electricity Disclosure. ... Recreational Marijuana and Rentals.Feb 7, 2022

How do I review a lease agreement?

Take advantage of this valuable time with your future tenant and use these 7 tips for reviewing your lease agreement.Choose the right location. ... Allow for plenty of time. ... Dress professionally. ... Bring all the paperwork. ... Go over the lease together. ... Take the time to listen. ... Take notes for later.May 5, 2015

What are 4 types of leases?

There are several different types of residential tenancy agreements, including short-term fixed, long-term fixed and periodic leases.Feb 3, 2021

What are the 3 main types of lease?

The three main types of leasing are finance leasing, operating leasing and contract hire.

What are the four primary types of leases?

There are four different types of lease: gross lease, net lease, percentage lease, and variable lease....Let's have a look at each one.Gross Lease. Gross leases are most common for commercial properties such as offices and retail space. ... Net Lease. ... Percentage Lease. ... Variable lease.

How to establish a lawyer-client relationship?

Old-fashioned as it may seem, the simple handshake is still widely regarded as an -acceptable basis for establishing a lawyer-client relationship. But not everyone is so casual—at the other end of the spectrum, where the interaction between you and your lawyer is more formal, you may find yourself handed multiple pieces of paper, such as: 1 a client information form, which asks for details on your business, your finances, and who (if anyone) referred you to the lawyer's office 2 a brochure describing the law practice and the education and experience of the firm's lawyers, and 3 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.

What is flat fee agreement?

In a flat fee agreement, you pay the same amount regardless of how much time the lawyer spends on the particular job. When an attorney is highly recommended by others and the flat fee is moderate, this can be a great arrangement for you.

What is a retention letter?

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. If the lawyer you've chosen has dispensed with these formalities, you may not care very much—after all, ...

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, ...

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.

Is the internet secure?

The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties. If you've never hired a lawyer before, you're probably wondering what you can expect when you show up for your first appointment.

What is a landlord tenant attorney?

A landlord/tenant attorney can help you analyze your situation, determine what your rights are, and make a well-informed decision about how to protect your interests. We've created a list of trusted landlord/tenant attorneys to help you find a lawyer who is the best fit for your situation.

What are the legal issues with landlords?

Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in a variety of forms. These often include: 1 Landlord/tenant disputes, such as those related to rental rates, late or unpaid rent, security deposits, disagreements about the habitability of rental property, and other tenant rights and landlord rights issues. 2 Eviction, either seeking to evict a tenant or helping a tenant fight eviction and stay in their home (especially during times where additional tenants' rights/renters' rights are in effect, such as the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic). 3 Rental agreements and lease agreements, including initial drafting and review of rental contracts, updates to the terms of the lease, and other contract-related matters. 4 Discrimination claims, including those related to housing discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, disability or other classification protected under the federal Fair Housing Act or other state or local ordinances. 5 Commercial real estate matters, from negotiating an initial commercial lease to litigating business disputes related to the lease or other issues. 6 Personal injury claims, if a property is not kept safe and in proper repair and someone is injured as a result. 7 Addressing tangential issues for landlords, including business law and estate planning-related issues such as business succession planning, and protection of rental property assets in a divorce or other family law matter.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What happens if you breach a rental agreement?

If your tenant has breached any of the terms of a rental agreement, you may be entitled to recover losses in a court of law. The most common disputes with rental agreements are, of course, disputes over late or missing rent payments.

How much notice do you need to give a landlord to terminate a rental agreement?

If a rental agreement is subject to automatic renewal, the tenant needs to give the landlord 30 days advance notice if they wish to terminate the agreement. The laws governing rental agreements can vary widely by state or region.

What are the terms of a rental agreement?

The terms of rental payments are the focus of rental agreements, but the agreement can address other matters as well. Most rental agreements will address the following matters: 1 Duration of rental term (i.e., whether for one month, month-to-month, or year-to-year, etc.) 2 Names and background information of occupants 3 Price of monthly rent payments 4 Terms of utilities costs 5 Instructions regarding liability for property damage 6 Provisions regarding deposits (such as landlord deposits, security deposits, etc.) 7 Any other special instructions

How long does a rental agreement last?

Written rental agreements can be temporary, usually lasting for a period of 30 days. Some “month-to-month” rental agreements are subject to automatic renewal at the end of the 30 day period.

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.

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.

What are the requirements for a residential lease?

There are certain items that every residential lease must contain, such as the name of the parties, the length of the tenancy, the amount of rent that is due each month, and so forth. However, there are some important provisions that the parties should include like the following: 1 Rules about having pets; 2 Restrictions on illegal activities; 3 Whether the landlord or the tenant will be responsible for repairs and maintenance; 4 Whether a tenant needs to obtain a renters insurance policy; 5 Whether the tenant is allowed to operate a business on the property; 6 Rules concerning smoking policies and other potentially disruptive activities like noise; 7 Clear terms regarding when a landlord is permitted to enter the premises; 8 Instructions concerning what a tenant must do to sublet their apartment and whether or not the landlord even permits sublets; and/or 9 Notice requirements and if there is an option to renew the lease.

How long does a commercial lease last?

Oftentimes, the contracting parties will enter into a commercial lease agreement for as long as several years. This is in direct contrast to the standards of a residential lease, which are normally for one year or less.

What is residential lease?

A residential lease is a specific type of legal agreement that is entered into when a tenant rents property from a landlord to use for residential purposes (i.e., living). Similar to other lease agreements, a residential lease will contain the terms and conditions of the lease, such as the date that the lease expires and how often ...

Can a landlord keep a security deposit?

The landlord may also keep the original tenant’s security deposit to make up for the loss of rent and to make repairs if necessary.

What happens if rent is too high?

This is so that if the landlord raises the rent too high, then the tenant will still have time to look for a new apartment before their lease expires. The landlord must also approve a tenant’s request to renew their lease.

How long does it take to renew a lease?

However, the tenant will usually know one to three months in advance of the lease’s end date if they will have to move or not.

What to do if tenant has not moved out?

If the tenant has not completely moved out by the time the residential lease expires, but they have breached the lease, then the landlord may call the county sheriff’s department or other law enforcement agency in the area to remove the tenant and any of their belongings .

Heather Morcroft

I agree with the other attorneys and would say that although there is no legal requirement that an attorney write a lease for you, the practical answer is YES!!!!!

Carol Lynne Zimmerly

You should hire an attorney to draft a lease agreement for you. The ones you find online or in stores usually don't have the strongest language with the right kind of clauses to protect the landlord.

Brandy Ann Peeples

First of all, you need to make sure you're complying with all local zoning laws. Some jurisdictions require rental licenses; other zoning ordinances prohibit renting in certain properties.#N#Secondly, while a lease doesn't have to be written in "legalese" there are...