Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Browse published legal information questions related to Real Estate, Housing & Construction.
Can a Security Guard Legally Detain Me After I Showed Proof of Purchase?
In Utah, a security guard may sometimes stop or hold someone briefly, but only within the limits of the law and the guard’s authority. Showing proof of purchase may resolve the immediate concern, but it does not automati...
Do I have to pay for cable service that was bundled into my rent even though I never used it?
In New York, the short answer is usually that it depends on what your lease says and how the charge was set up. If cable service was truly part of the rent or a required amenity under your lease, you may still owe the am...
What are my rights if my car insurance company says my accident claim is worth less than the repair estimate?
If your car insurance company says your accident claim is worth less than the repair estimate, that usually means the insurer is questioning some part of the repair bill, the damage estimate, or the value of the loss. In...
What are my rights if I got an eviction notice after joining a tenant union?
If you received an eviction notice after joining a tenant union, that timing may raise a concern about retaliation. In general, landlords are not supposed to punish tenants for engaging in protected activity, and joining...
Can my landlord charge me for damages I reported before moving in?
In general, a landlord should not charge a tenant for damage that was already there before the tenant moved in, if the tenant can show the damage existed at move-in and was properly reported. In Alaska, as in many states...
What happens if several small damage incidents are added together over six months?
In Minnesota, several small damage incidents may sometimes be considered together, but not automatically. Whether they are “added together” usually depends on the legal claim, the facts, and how the incidents are connect...
What are my rights if a neighbor used a device to listen to my conversation inside my apartment?
If a neighbor used a device to listen to a private conversation inside your apartment, you may have legal rights under California law. In general, people have a strong expectation of privacy in their homes, and secretly...
Is it legal for a landlord to limit how many guests I can have over?
In general, a landlord may be able to limit guests through the lease, house rules, or building policies, including rules about how many people can stay overnight or for how long. Whether a guest limit is enforceable usua...
Can I File a Police Report if My Neighbor Is Wearing My Stolen Sweater?
Yes, you usually can file a police report if you reasonably believe your sweater was stolen and you have information suggesting your neighbor may be in possession of it. In Texas, a police report is generally a way to re...
Do I have to respond in writing to an eviction notice before the landlord files in court?
In Mississippi, you may not always have to send a written response to an eviction notice before the landlord files in court. In general, many eviction notices are simply a landlord’s way of starting the process, and the...
Do I have to split rental property that I owned before marriage?
In general, rental property that you owned before marriage may start out as separate property in an Oregon divorce. That means the property itself is not always split just because you are getting divorced. But the answer...
What are my rights if a contractor damaged my neighbor's fence while working on my driveway?
If a contractor damaged your neighbor’s fence while working on your driveway, the situation usually turns on who caused the damage, what the contract says, and whether the contractor acted carelessly. In Alabama, the nei...
Is it legal for the insurance company to total my car even though I want it repaired?
In general, yes. In Florida, an insurance company may be allowed to declare a vehicle a total loss even if you would prefer to have it repaired, depending on the policy, the damage, the car’s value, and the insurer’s est...
Is it legal for a landlord to give an eviction notice because my child is too loud during the day?
In Florida, a landlord may be able to give an eviction notice if the child’s noise is tied to a lease violation, a nuisance, or repeated disturbances that affect other tenants or neighbors. But a notice is not the same t...
Is it legal for a landlord to deny my application after taking a $75 fee?
In general, a landlord may be allowed to deny a rental application even after collecting an application fee, including in Rhode Island, if the fee was charged for processing the application and the landlord did not make...