Regardless of whether you're a landlord or a tenant, it's important to remember both have certain rights, obligations, and protections under the law. Too often, a landlord or tenant will decide to take matters into their own hands, resulting in violations of the law and exposure to fines, eviction, and civil litigation. At The law office of Thomas W. Martin, LLC, I inform my clients of their rights and obligations, taking legal action to protect their interest without getting them in further trouble. Next, I carefully review the terms of your lease or contract in order to determine if there is any language binding on you or the other party in regard to repairing the problem at hand.
Don't act without thinking or contacting an experienced landlord / tenant lawyer -- contact The law office of Thomas W. Martin, LLC today. How you react to a problem within the first few days or so will often determine whether you face additional legal troubles later. Call today and get the information you need from an experienced attorney.
Landlord / Tenant Issues
The law office of Thomas Martin counsels and represents clients in regard to the following:
- Evictions
- Property damage
- Collection of unpaid rent
- Suspected illegal activity
- Return of security deposit
- Insect or rodent infestation
- Turning on heat in an building
- Violations of tenant occupancy
- Unlawful entry of an apartment
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Failure to conduct required repairs
Avoiding Common -- and Costly -- Mistakes
Problems between landlords and tenants tend to escalate when one party tries to resolve an issue outside appropriate legal channels by using "self help." However, once a landlord violates the rights of a tenant, they're subject to fines and all kinds of legal liability. Alternately, no matter how justified a tenant may believe they are in not paying a late fee or withholding rent, they may find themselves subject to eviction if they don't follow proscribe legal procedures for solving a problem.
When lease disputes, eviction notices, or complaints regarding the disrepair of property surface, it's essential that you contact my office first before doing anything. Even if a tenant has clearly violated the terms of their lease, you cannot simply enter their apartment or change the locks on the door. Likewise, even if your landlord has failed to turn on the heat in your building or refuses to repair a leaking pipe, you can't simply withhold rent payments.
Get the Facts -- Be Prepared
My office can help you understand what the law requires of you and the legal options available for solving your problem and recovering any damages you might have suffered. For more information, contact The law office of Thomas W. Martin, LLC today.
