Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Browse published legal information questions related to Real Estate, Housing & Construction.
What happens if my spouse destroys text messages that matter to the divorce case?
In an Alaska divorce case, if a spouse destroys text messages that may be important, the court may treat that as a serious evidence issue. In general, courts expect both sides to preserve potentially relevant information...
Can a landlord charge me for landscaping when I live in an apartment?
In general, a landlord in Tennessee may charge a tenant for landscaping costs if the lease clearly allows it or if the charge is part of a lawful fee structure agreed to by the tenant. In many apartment rentals, however,...
Do I have to pay a cancellation fee for a wedding venue that rescheduled my date without asking?
In general, a wedding venue may not be able to enforce a cancellation fee if the venue itself changed the date without your agreement. But the answer depends heavily on the contract language, what the venue actually did,...
Do I have to leave after a 60-day notice if I just renewed my lease online?
In Montana, the answer depends on what the online renewal says, whether the landlord had the legal right to end or decline renewal, and whether the lease is actually in effect for a new term. In general, if a tenant and...
What happens if an eviction notice was served to my teenage child while I was at work?
In New Hampshire, what happens next usually depends on who was actually served, how the notice was delivered, and whether the child was old enough to understand and relay the paper to you. In general, an eviction notice...
What happens if I accidentally broke a neighbor’s window while playing basketball in the driveway?
If you accidentally broke a neighbor’s window while playing basketball in your driveway, the situation is usually handled as a property damage issue rather than a criminal one, but the exact response depends on the facts...
What are my rights if I received a 30-day notice after asking for repairs in writing?
If you are in Washington and you asked for repairs in writing, then got a 30-day notice afterward, that can raise concerns about whether the landlord is trying to end the tenancy because you asserted repair rights. In ge...
Do I have to prove the exact time a spill appeared before I slipped?
In general, no. In a Rhode Island slip-and-fall claim, people usually do not have to prove the exact minute a spill appeared before the fall. What often matters more is whether the property owner or occupier knew, or rea...
My Landlord Says My Moldy Bathroom Is “Just Condensation” — Can I Break the Lease?
In Oklahoma, a moldy bathroom can sometimes be a serious habitability issue, but whether you can break a lease usually depends on the facts, the lease terms, and how the problem is handled after notice. A landlord may sa...
Can I Break My Lease Because the Elevator Has Been Broken for Weeks?
In Maryland, a broken elevator may be a serious housing problem, but it does not automatically let a tenant break a lease. In general, the legal question is whether the problem is severe enough to make the rental unit or...
How do I handle harassment from a former dating partner if there was no domestic relationship?
If a former dating partner is harassing you, the fact that there was no domestic relationship does not necessarily mean you have no legal options. In Washington, the available options often depend on what the person is d...
Can my landlord keep my deposit for damage I did not cause?
In general, a landlord may only keep a security deposit for reasons allowed by the lease and by state law. If the claimed damage was not caused by you, your household, or your guests, the landlord may have a weaker basis...
Can I ask the court to order the harasser to stay 500 feet away from my home?
In Washington, you can usually ask a court for a protection order that includes a stay-away distance from your home, but the court does not automatically grant a specific 500-foot boundary in every case. Whether a judge...
Do I have to pay a cancellation charge when the cleaning company canceled on me twice?
In general, if the cleaning company canceled on you twice, whether you owe a cancellation charge depends on the contract, the company’s cancellation policy, and what actually happened. If the company was the one that fai...
Do I have to pay for a broken appliance if it stopped working due to age?
In general, whether you have to pay for a broken appliance that stopped working due to age depends on what the appliance was, who owned it, and what agreement controlled the situation. In Indiana, as in many states, the...