Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Browse published legal information questions related to Real Estate, Housing & Construction.
Can my apartment charge me for “valet trash” when I never use it?
In Texas, an apartment can often charge a valet trash fee even if you personally do not use the service, if that charge is part of the lease or other rental agreement you accepted. In general, rental agreements can inclu...
What happens if my security camera captures audio of guests talking in my living room?
In California, the fact that a security camera captures audio in a living room can raise privacy and consent issues, especially if guests did not know they were being recorded. In general, California is known for strict...
What happens if a roommate secretly installed a camera in our shared bathroom?
If a roommate secretly installed a camera in a shared bathroom, that can raise serious legal and safety concerns in Texas. In general, a bathroom is one of the most private places in a home, and secretly recording people...
How do I handle finding a camera disguised as a phone charger in a vacation rental?
Finding a camera disguised as a phone charger in a vacation rental can be alarming, and in Georgia it may raise both privacy and criminal-law concerns depending on the facts. In general, the safest first steps are to avo...
How do I handle a solar panel company that promised savings but my electric bill went up?
If a solar company promised that your electric bill would go down but it went up instead, the first step is usually to review exactly what was said, what was written, and how the system is performing. In general, a highe...
Can a Landlord Enter My Apartment Without Telling Me?
In Minnesota, a landlord usually does not have free rein to enter a tenant’s apartment whenever they want. In general, tenants have a right to privacy and quiet enjoyment of their rental home, and landlords typically nee...
Can a Hotel Charge a Smoking Fee If I Never Smoked?
In general, a hotel may charge a smoking fee if it believes a room, balcony, or other hotel area was smoked in or smelled like smoke, even if the guest says they never smoked. The key issue is usually not only whether th...
Can a Hotel Keep My Deposit for Noise Complaints I Did Not Cause?
In general, a hotel may only keep a deposit if its policy, the room agreement, or another valid contract term allows it and if the hotel can connect the loss to the guest’s conduct or to an actual charge that the deposit...
What Are My Rights if My Lease Renewal Is Delayed Until the Last Day?
If your lease renewal is delayed until the last day, your rights in New York usually depend on the type of housing, the wording of your lease, any rent regulation rules, and how your landlord has handled the renewal proc...
Can I take a daycare to small claims court for charging me after I withdrew my child?
In Arizona, you may be able to take a daycare to small claims court if you believe the daycare charged you money it was not entitled to collect after you withdrew your child. Whether that is a good fit usually depends on...
Can a Moving Company Auction My Stuff Without Proper Notice?
In general, a moving company may not be able to auction your belongings without giving notice first. Whether the auction was allowed usually depends on the contract, where the goods were stored, how much was owed, and wh...
What happens if a restaurant claims the warning cone was there but I never saw one?
If a restaurant says a warning cone was in place but you never saw it, that usually turns the case into a factual dispute about what really happened. In Texas, that kind of dispute often matters because premises liabilit...
Can My Landlord Require Professional Cleaning Even If the Lease Doesn’t Say So?
In general, a landlord may expect a rental unit to be returned in a reasonably clean condition, but that does not always mean the landlord can require professional cleaning if the lease does not say so. In Minnesota, the...
Can a Landlord Charge Late Fees Even Though Their Payment Portal Was Down?
In Alaska, a landlord may be able to charge a late fee even if a payment portal was temporarily down, but that usually depends on the lease, the timing of the rent payment, and whether the tenant had other reasonable way...
What happens if a repair shop charges me for parts I did not authorize?
In Massachusetts, a repair shop generally should not add charges for parts or work that you did not authorize, but the exact answer depends on what you agreed to, what the shop disclosed, and how the repair was documente...