Other Areas of Law

A solid rental contract is invaluable and should spell out the rights of both tenant and landlord. A written, signed agreement will eliminate many headaches in the event of a dispute. Contracts...

A lease violation or nonpayment of rent can be grounds for eviction, yet a landlord's failure to abide by state eviction laws can be a violation of the tenant's rights. Eviction processes will...

Typical residential and commercial lease agreements contain language about "reasonable wear and tear." A tenant is not obligated to compensate a landlord for reasonable wear in a leased property....

The lease signed by a landlord and tenant should cover acts of nature. It defines the landlord's rights, as well as the tenant's. Note, though, that local and state laws may differ. To learn about...

If you want to terminate a residential lease agreement with a tenant legally, the law sets forth specific procedures that you must follow. Failure to follow the legal procedures to terminate a...

Landlords have legal grounds for eviction when the rent is not paid, when there is a violation of the lease terms (for example, no pets, or no loud noises after a certain hour), when the tenant...

When a tenant falls short on the rent, you can evict him or her in most situations and start renting the unit out to someone else. However, eviction only solves the problem of future missed rent...

Landlords use a lease with a tenant to protect their rights and their property. Whenever a breach occurs by a tenant, such as breaking a lease, a landlord can take action against the tenant to...

Unlike most states that adopted a version of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, California enacted rental laws that provide more significant rights and protections to a tenant....

In most states, a "lodger" is defined as an individual who rents a room from the owner of a dwelling unit. Termination of the living arrangement can be done by one of the parties giving notice...

Eminent domain is the process through which a governmental unit takes possession of real estate. The governmental unit pays a fair price for the property, which is then put to use for a purpose...

Along with responsibilities, landlords have certain rights and protections under federal law. Rights granted to landlords include collecting security deposits, evicting tenants, raising rent and...

People who lease properties for residential use are known as tenants (also known as "lessee"). The owner of the home being leased is called a landlord (also known as "lessor"). Laws for each state...

Eviction is a term best summarized with a trio of frightening words: vacate the premises. In tough economic times, many families are being forced from their homes. Often, landlords are justified...

Businesses of all types make significant investments in the property in which they operate, even if they are leasing the premises. Consequently, people and businesses that lease commercial...

Landlords should think twice before taking eviction matters into their own hands. Loud parties or late rent is not an excuse for a landlord to turn off the water or change the locks. It's...

As a landlord you occasionally may encounter a renter that does not honor his lease agreements. For example, you may face the prospect of a renter that writes a bad check to you. In each state in...

In the eyes of the residential tenant, one of the sexiest affirmative defenses to an eviction for the non-payment of rent is a claim that the landlord has failed to adequately maintain the...

Even when the residential tenant timely serves the statutory notice complaining about the landlord’s failure to maintain the premises, Florida Statute § 83.60 mandates that, in an eviction...

Florida Statute § 83.56(5) provides, in pertinent part, that: “If the landlord accepts rent with actual knowledge of a noncompliance by the tenant or accepts performance by the tenant of any...

Most landlords, prior to preparing the 3 Day Eviction Notice, realize that it is a good idea to review the residential lease to determine the amount of rent that should be includied in the notice...

Also referred to as a lease agreement, a rent agreement is a document outlining the terms and conditions under which a tenant rents a property from a landlord. Unlike an oral agreement, a written...

Throughout the United States the laws governing rental agreements in each of the 50 states are relatively uniform. Many states have adopted what is known as the Uniform Residential Landlord and...

As a resident of the Sunshine State facing the prospect of being evicted from your home, you may be wondering how to get government help with an eviction in Florida. There are a number of...

Vermont renter's rights laws set forth specific protections for tenants. If a landlord violates any one of these rights, the tenant can take legal action against a landlord in the Superior Court...

Eviction is an all too common occurrence among American tenants and landlords. It's very important to keep accurate and detailed records of rent payments, complaints and lease agreements.

The state of Georgia does not interfere with the affairs of landlords and tenants, but landlords and tenants can take the matters to court. According to the Georgia Department of Community...

There are many landlord now renting real estate that seem to believe that their only obligation in the landlord tenant relationship is to collect the rent. As a result, such landlords are utterly...

Most landlords in Florida collect from their tenants a security deposit and advance rent before the tenant steps even one foot in the rental property. The purpose of the security deposit is to...

In 1972, the federal Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act was written to govern residential landlord and tenant interactions. The act is not designed for commercial, industrial or...

The Rent Control Act of 2009, also known as the Republic Act (RA) Number 9653, is a legislative act signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that creates a year-long moratorium on increasing...

Business tenants have rights to their property that stem from their lease agreement, and state and federal law. State laws vary depending on what state you live in, but most states provide many of...

Renters' rights in Oregon are found in the state's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The act includes everything from a tenant's rights to peaceful possession of the premises to her rights in...

Before May of 2009, renters of a foreclosed home would typically lose their lease upon foreclosure of the home and be evicted. However, a new federal law was passed in 2009 that allows tenants to...

There is more than one way to terminate a lease. The type of lease determines the methods available for termination. Some leases permit automatic termination while others require affirmative steps...

Many Americans rent property. Despite this, few tenants are aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding damage and repairs to the property. Whether the damage is as minor as a carpet...

For a renter, eviction can be a confusing process, made worse by a lack of information about what a tenant's rights are in the eviction process. Having an understanding of these rights before an...

Many renters face eviction every year. For anybody that can be an aggravating and confusing process, made all the worse by a lack of information about what a tenant's rights eviction rights are....

Although foreclosure cases are dominating the court dockets in every county in Florida, Florida courts are increasingly being called up to decided landlord tenant eviction proceedings. For the...

Rental subrogation is a process by which a landlord or tenant may seek to be made whole for damages to their property or to themselves. The landlord or tenant may assign the right to subrogation...

A tenant cannot be evicted without reason or without the landlord following the law. A tenant cannot be threatened if they do not move. Landlords must go through the legal system to remove a...

An eviction is a legal process requiring an order from a court. In Maryland, a landlord may not evict a tenant simply by posting a notice on the door demanding that the tenant immediately vacate...

Millions of American's rent their home. In most cases this is a simple and beneficial relationship and one way for anybody to assure that this relationship remains smooth is to understand what a...

Rental leases serve as legally binding contracts. A lease agreement can involve apartments, short-term car rentals, car leases, or property such as recording equipment. You should read and...

Landlord rights of eviction have evolved because of a need to protect property, investment and business. These rights are to protect the landlord against liability and physical damage to the...

Millions of Americans do not own their own home, but rent from somebody else. Despite the fact that so many are renters, few may be aware of a tenant's rights and obligations. Having some...

Millions of Americans are renters and one of the most misunderstood areas of landlord/tenant law is the tenant's rights and landlord's responsibilities to repair damages. Whether the damage is as...

A landlord must give the tenant a "notice to quit" the residence by a certain date. If the tenant fails to comply, the eviction process starts with a "summons and complaint" that requires the...

Millions of American's rent their home and every year many of those homes go through a change of ownership. This change can be stressful tenant, especially one unsure what effect this change of...

If you reside on a piece of property that you do not have legal title rights to and pay steady rent to a person or entity in order to continue to reside there, chances are, you are a tenant....