Landlord Tenant Law Helpline

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So you’re a tenant, and you’ve signed a lease to rent an apartment or home. Everything seems great until the moment you hand over the last month’s rent check and your landlord tells you that he plans on keeping it as a final deposit. If you are in this situation, then there is likely a conflict of interest brewing. As an informed tenant, it is important to be aware of your rights under landlord-tenant laws when residing in an apartment or rental unit. To avoid being taken advantage of by your landlord, it is important that you know what your obligations as a tenant are so that there are no surprises along the way. If you are having issues with your landlord regarding lease responsibilities, payment for services such as utilities or maintenance, or any other rights as a tenant—how do you find a Landlord Tenant Lawyer?

What Does The Landlord Tenant Law Mean?

The state laws that govern the relationship between a landlord and a tenant are collectively called “the landlord tenant law.” If you’re renting an apartment or other residence, the landlord tenant law will specify what you can and can’t do, how you can and can’t go about resolving disputes with your landlord, and what your rights and obligations are as a tenant. If you violate the landlord tenant law, you could be evicted from your residence. The landlord tenant law also applies if you’re renting a room in a house or other private residence. It applies to hotels, motels and other places that rent out short-term lodging. In some states, however, the law applies to different types of rental arrangements.

Find A Landlord-Tenant Lawyer

As you begin your search for a landlord-tenant lawyer, be sure to choose one with experience in residential landlord-tenant law. While most attorneys may be knowledgeable in landlord-tenant law, they may not have specific experience in dealing with landlord-tenant issues that arise in the residential context. Landlord-tenant lawyers specialize in dealing with residential landlord-tenant issues and can help you review and analyze your lease terms, understand your rights and obligations as a tenant, and represent you in disputes you may have with your landlord over lease issues.

Landlords Are Prohibited From Requiring A Security Deposit

While landlords are allowed to collect a “security deposit” to protect themselves from potential damages or other financial loss, they cannot collect a “security deposit” or a fee for “rent.” Only a specified dollar amount can be collected for the purposes of “rent.” Security deposits are generally collected for damage done to the property, cleaning fees, and other reasons. At the end of your lease or rental agreement, landlords are required to provide you with an itemized list of deductions against the security deposit they took from you. If there are any remaining funds in your security deposit, then the landlord must return this to you.

Landlords Are Prohibited From Requiring Advance Payments for Repairs

If your rental unit is in need of repairs, and your landlord has not made repairs in a timelier manner, then you have the right to make the repairs yourself and deduct the cost from your rent. However, landlords are prohibited from requiring tenants to first pay for repairs and then seek reimbursement from the landlord for those costs. If your landlord requires you to make advance payments for repairs, you are likely in violation of the landlord tenant law and may be able to take legal action against your landlord.

Protecting Your Deposit After You Move Out

If you live in an apartment or rental unit, then you are required to leave the unit in the same state that it was when you first moved in. Landlords have the right to impose a “cleaning fee” if the unit is not left in the same state it was when you moved in, but they can only collect those cleaning fees if you have agreed to them in your lease or rental agreement. If you have a written lease or rental agreement, then it is important that you carefully read and understand the terms of the contract. If you have a dispute with your landlord over cleaning fees or other terms of your lease or rental agreement, then you can file a grievance with the Rental Board in your state.

Conclusion

Finding a landlord tenant lawyer can be a bit tricky. You can start by searching for a lawyer online and narrowing your search by city and specialty. Once you have a few names and have reviewed the information on their websites, it’s a good idea to call each of them and speak with a representative to determine which attorney is the best fit for you.