Landlord-tenant attorneys handle evictions and eviction defence, security deposit disputes, habitability and repair claims, lease drafting and termination, rent regulation, illegal lockouts and utility shutoffs, and disputes over commercial leases.
This is one of the most local areas of law in the country. Notice periods, permitted grounds for eviction, deposit rules and tenant protections differ not only by state but frequently by city, and courts move quickly once a case is filed.
Before you hire
- Do not miss a court date. Eviction cases are decided by default faster than almost any other proceeding.
- Tenants: keep written repair requests, photographs and payment records, and never withhold rent without first checking what your jurisdiction requires.
- Landlords: a defective notice restarts the whole process. Have the notice reviewed before it is served.
- Ask about local rent stabilisation or just-cause ordinances if the property is in a city that has them.
Real estate law covers ownership and transactions; foreclosure defence covers mortgage-side disputes.