how to find an attorney who handles house rental permits

by Prof. Jorge Mueller III 9 min read

To find the name of an attorney, contact your local tenant association or local bar association. These numbers should be listed in your telephone directory. You may also call the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral and Information Service at 1-800-252-9690.

Why hire a landlord attorney?

Because the apartment you rent is your own personal space, the law places many limits on landlords' activities. For example, if a landlord tries to make you move without giving you enough notice, ...

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 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 is a landlord lawyer?

An experienced landlord / tenant lawyer can help both a tenant and a landlord when issues arise. For tenants, landlord tenant lawyers can help the tenant when they are discriminated against, landlord is evicting in an illegal fashion, when your landlord would not make necessary repairs for you to have a livable place, ...

How to find an attorney online?

One of the best ways to find an attorney online is through the services of LegalMatch.com. LegalMatch.com goes beyond the ordinary lawyer directories that are usually found on legal websites. Instead of simply listing phone numbers, LegalMatch.com offers lawyer-client matching services based on the individual needs of each client.

What are the restrictions on a lease?

Other restrictions that can be singled out are excessive noise and illegal activities. A lease or rental agreement may also forbid certain furnishings or accessories, like a waterbed or BBQ.

What utilities do you have to pay for an apartment?

Utilities: The agreement should state explicitly which utilities the tenant must pay for. Many apartment rentals include water and garbage collection, but usually electricity, gas and telephone are the tenant's responsibilities.

What can a real estate attorney do for you?

A real estate attorney will be able to help you identify the law that applies to your landlord-tenant relationship and help you achieve a beneficial result. A real estate attorney will also be able to review the terms of a lease and help you discover what you will be bound to do under the lease.

How long is a rental agreement?

Duration: How term or length of time the rental agreement will be in force. While rental agreements are generally month to month. Leases are often for six months to one year or more.

How long does it take to get a lawyer to respond to my case?

You’ll be matched with a lawyer for free, and will receive a response from a lawyer in your area within 1-3 business days. Our system also allows you to review lawyer profiles and ratings. In many instances, the prevailing party will be able to get their attorney expenses reimbursed, so if your lawyer believes that your case is strong enough to win you may not have to pay any expenses.

How long does it take to resolve a dispute over property?

There are many other forms of property as well. Legal disputes over property can be complex, and can often take years to resolve (especially for larger plots of land).

What is trespassing in real estate?

Trespassing occurs when a person enters another person’s land or real property unlawfully and without their permission. Trespassing can also involve other issues, such as interfering with another’s ability to use their property, or when a person remains on property without permission.

What is considered separate property?

In contrast, property obtained outside of the marriage (i.e. before the marriage) may be considered “separate” property; each spouse usually keeps their own separate property in full when they divorce. Communal property generally does NOT include: 1 Property obtained before marriage; 2 Property given as a gift specifically to only one spouse; 3 Any property obtained after divorce or separation proceedings has already been initiated.

What is communal property?

In most states, communal property is defined as property that was acquired while the couple was married.

What is intellectual property?

For instance, state and federal laws often address other types of property like: Intellectual Property: Intellectual property is a type of property that is generally intangible and without physical form, such as songs, names and logos attached to products, inventions, and authored works.

What is the difference between personal property and real property?

In comparison, personal property is defined as “anything that may be subject to ownership, besides land”. Thus, the main foundation of physical property is that it can be moved, unlike land or real property.

What is business property?

These types of property can generate income for the owner, but they can also be subject to unauthorized use, theft, and infringement issues; Business Property: Business or commercial property is property that is owned by a business or a company.

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 tangential issues for landlords?

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 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.

Why do landlords have attorneys fees?

Many landlords include an "attorneys' fees" clause in their lease or rental agreement to prevent frivolous lawsuits. If your lease or rental agreement includes this clause, you might be entitled to get reimbursed for your reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs if you win a lawsuit against your landlord.

How many discrimination complaints does HUD receive?

HUD and state and local agencies in FHAP receive over 10,000 discrimination complaints a year. If HUD investigates your complaint and determines there's reasonable cause to believe your landlord has been discriminating, you'll get the benefit of having a HUD lawyer representing you in front of an administrative law judge at no cost. The judge can award you compensation and attorneys' fees, impose penalties against your landlord, and order other relief.

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 refuses to honor promise?

If the landlord later refuses to honor the promise, you might need to hire a lawyer to write a stern letter to your landlord, with a reminder that landlords can be held liable for some criminal activities at their rentals, and threatening a lawsuit unless the landlord follows through.

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.

How to evict a landlord?

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. These types of "self-help" remedies are illegal. No matter how strong a landlord's case may be for ending a tenancy, a landlord doesn't have the right to take, or even threaten, any self-help actions against you.

What is a housing provider?

A housing provider that discriminates against someone could be a landlord or a real estate management company. It could also be a lending institution like a bank or other organization that aids in the homebuying process.

What to do if you have a complaint against a mortgage company?

If you have a complaint against a mortgage company, try to resolve it with the company first. Several government agencies accept complaints about mortgage lenders. In some cases, you should file your complaint with more than one agency, especially at the federal and state level.

What is housing discrimination?

Housing discrimination happens when a housing provider gets in the way of a person renting or buying housing because of their

What happens if a lender denies a mortgage application?

File a complaint with the CFPB if a lender has denied a mortgage application because of your: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enforces the Fair Housing Act. This law prohibits discrimination when you rent, buy, or secure financing for a home. Your state may also have a similar law.

Does the Fair Housing Act prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation?

Discrimination Against LGBT People. The Fair Housing Act does not specifically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But discrimination against someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) may still be in violation of the Act or other state or local regulations.

Is discrimination against housing prohibited?

It could also be a lending institution like a bank or other organization that is an important part of acquiring a home. Housing discrimination is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act. Discrimination covered by the Act can take many different forms beyond just raising prices or lying about availability.

Fee Arrangements

Attorney fees can be daunting, but you should be aware that some attorneys will take cases that involve a potentially substantial payout on a contingency fee basis. This is the usual way of handling personal injury and discrimination cases, although it is not common in eviction cases.

When the Landlord Pays

Your lease may have a provision that awards attorney fees if you win in a dispute over the lease. These provisions usually work both ways, meaning that whoever loses pays both sides’ attorney fees.

Disputes with Your Lawyer

If you are concerned about your lawyer’s fees, accessibility, or competence, you should address the situation head-on as soon as possible. If it is not cleared up to your satisfaction, you should not hesitate to change lawyers.