Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Browse published legal information questions related to Real Estate, Housing & Construction.
What are my rights if I was injured by a falling ceiling tile in my rental apartment?
If you were injured by a falling ceiling tile in an Illinois rental apartment, you may have legal rights under several different areas of law, depending on what caused the tile to fall and who was responsible for the con...
Can I Stop Paying Rent If Mold Is Making Me Sick?
In Pennsylvania, mold problems can be serious, especially if they may be affecting your health. But in general, a tenant should not assume that mold automatically allows them to stop paying rent. Rent withholding can cre...
What Type of Attorney Handles Defamation Threats Over Social Media Posts?
In general, a defamation issue involving social media posts may be handled by an attorney who practices defamation law, media law, First Amendment-related litigation, or civil litigation. In Kansas, the right type of law...
Can a Landlord Charge Pet Rent for an Emotional Support Animal?
In California, a landlord generally may not treat an emotional support animal as a pet just because the animal lives with a tenant. An emotional support animal, sometimes called an ESA, is usually considered a housing ac...
Can a Landlord Refuse to Fix a Broken Refrigerator?
In general, a landlord may not be able to ignore a broken refrigerator if the appliance is part of the rental agreement or was provided with the unit, especially if the issue affects habitability or the tenant’s use of t...
Is It Legal for a Store to Refuse Cash Payments?
In general, a store in Virginia may be able to refuse cash payments, but the answer often depends on the type of business, the store’s policies, and any laws that apply to the specific transaction. For many everyday reta...
What Happens If a Company Refuses to Honor a Written Price Quote?
In general, if a company gives you a written price quote and later refuses to honor it, the situation may turn on what the quote said, whether it was meant to be binding, and what other communications or documents were e...
How do I protect rental property income in a prenuptial agreement?
In general, a prenuptial agreement can be one way to define how rental property and rental income will be treated during a marriage. For example, the agreement may state that a particular building remains separate proper...
What are my rights if a neighbor keeps recording my children in the yard and yelling insults?
In Washington, you may have several possible legal concerns if a neighbor repeatedly records your children in your yard and yells insults at you or them. In general, this kind of conduct can raise issues involving harass...
Is it legal for a landlord to give me an eviction notice because I complained about mold?
In Arizona, a landlord usually cannot lawfully evict a tenant simply for making a good-faith complaint about mold or another housing condition. In general, tenant complaints about habitability problems may be protected a...
Can a Landlord Make Me Pay for Replacing the Entire Carpet?
In general, a landlord may try to charge a tenant for carpet replacement if the carpet was damaged beyond ordinary wear and tear during the tenancy. But a landlord usually cannot require a tenant to pay for a brand-new c...
Can my landlord make me pay for professional carpet cleaning if the lease only says “clean”?
In Minnesota, the answer usually depends on the exact lease language, the condition of the carpet when you move out, and any other written move-out rules or addenda that are part of the lease. If the lease only says you...
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 my spouse bought a motorcycle during marriage but titled it in a friend’s name?
In Louisiana, a motorcycle bought during marriage may still be treated as a marital asset even if the title is in a friend’s name. Title is important evidence, but it is not always the only thing a court may look at when...
Can I record audio on my home security cameras if contractors are working inside my house?
In Massachusetts, recording audio on a home security camera may raise legal issues because audio recording can be treated differently from video recording. In general, people are often more comfortable that video of acti...