The Jordan Law Firm in Texas helps both landlords and tenants in the process of property litigation. Property litigation deals with the issues that arise when there is a rental relationship between the owner of a property and those residing on the grounds of the property. The litigation team at The Jordan Law Firm can assist in both commercial and residential disputes. Their experience includes working on behalf of both tenants and landlords, as well as property management companies and developers. They understand the process of property litigation is often an immediate issue because it impacts where a person is living. As a tenant, a landlord’s complaint can have effect your future ability to find a home.
Let The Jordan Law Firm help you with property litigation issues. By pulling their resources, they are able to use a variety of experience to prevent and resolve disputes. Property litigation covers a variety of specific topics, all of which The Jordan Law Firm has dealt with. These include:
Lease renewal proceedings
When a lease expires, it must be renewed if a person wants to remain in his apartment. The landlord must offer a new lease in advance of the expiration. Occasionally, unscrupulous or ignorant landlords try to take advantage of the renewal process by making a rent hike retroactive to the expiration. They may also request private information landlords are not entitled to know, or change the lease without disclosing it to the tenant or providing it in writing. In order to avoid problems, it is best to have legal professionals like those at The Jordan Law Firm look over the lease if there have been changes.
It is also important, as a landlord, to know your rights when tenants dispute increases or requests.
Rent and service charge recovery
As a landlord, it can be difficult to recover unpaid rent when a tenant does not pay, especially when the tenant moves and leaves no forwarding address. Service charges are levied by landlords to recover the costs they incur in providing services to a tenant, like cleanup or maintenance. If you are a landlord left with an unpaid invoice from a tenant or former tenant, speak with a legal professional.
Dilapidation claims and actions relating to other breaches of covenant
When a tenant rents a residence, his lease states what needs to be done when he moves out. For instance, he may be responsible for cleaning, painting, or repairs. If a landlord feels this was not done to meet the standards of the lease, he may be entitled to a portion or all of the safety deposit. In other cases, landlords try to hold tenants responsible for too much. The demands a landlord is legally able to make differs from state to state. Whether you are a tenant or landlord dealing with dilapidation claims, it is important to seek legal counsel.
Lease surrender negotiations
Even in the best living situations, changes occur and either the landlord or tenant needs to end the lease early. This is known as lease surrender, and it may require formal negotiations. It is usually formalized by a legal document that records the agreement and adjusted dates. Legal assistance ensures these proceedings are fair and mutually beneficial to both landlord and tenant.
Recovery of land or premises from unlawful occupiers/squatters
Any time a property is empty, there may be risk of unlawful occupants — also known as squatters — using the property. This typically happens when a property has insufficient security, but there are instances of people gaining access even if a landlord does all he can to protect the property. When this happens, the landlord must evict the squatters but the process may be complicated. A landlord should have legal representation when dealing with the matter.
In addition to the above issues, The Jordan Law Firm has also dealt with subletting disputes, disputes with neighboring properties, rent recovery from commercial landlords, planning and environmental disputes, and forfeiture actions. In each instance, The Jordan Law Firm has the experience that enables them to suit their legal advice to your specific needs.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Publication of this article and your receipt of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.
