Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Browse published legal information questions related to Real Estate, Housing & Construction.
Can I Break My Lease in Oklahoma Due to Unsafe Structural Conditions in My Apartment?
In Oklahoma, a tenant may sometimes be able to end a lease early if the apartment has serious unsafe structural conditions, but the answer depends heavily on the facts and on what the lease says. Not every repair problem...
What happens if a contractor used cheaper materials than what was listed in our written agreement?
If a contractor used cheaper materials than what your written agreement called for, the situation is often treated as a possible contract dispute, and sometimes also as a consumer-protection issue, depending on the facts...
Can I take my roommate to court for damaging shared furniture?
In general, you may be able to bring a court claim against a roommate if they damaged furniture that you own or co-own, but the result usually depends on who owned the item, how the damage happened, and what proof you ha...
What Can I Do If a Repair Technician Damaged My Home?
If a repair technician damaged your home, you may have several general options depending on what happened, what you can prove, and whether the technician was independent, employed by a company, or hired directly by you....
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,...
Is it legal for a landlord to charge separate fees for amenities that were included in the lease?
In Minnesota, the answer usually depends on the lease language and the surrounding facts. If an amenity was truly included in the lease as part of the agreed rent or as a promised service, a landlord may not be able to s...
My Neighbor Claims My Fence Is on Their Property — Who Has to Prove It?
In Michigan, the answer usually depends on what kind of dispute this is and what evidence each side has. In a boundary dispute, the person making the claim that the fence is on the wrong property often needs to support t...
What are my rights if an online retailer refuses to refund a returned item worth $300?
If an online retailer refuses to refund a returned item, your rights usually depend on the retailer’s posted return policy, what was promised at checkout, the condition of the item, and whether the retailer actually rece...
What Happens If a Utility Company Bills Me for the Wrong Meter?
If a utility company bills you for the wrong meter, the problem is usually a billing error that may be corrected once it is identified. In general, utilities rely on meter readings, account records, service addresses, an...
What are my rights if my landlord charges me late fees even though I paid on time with proof?
If you paid your rent on time and can prove it, a late fee may be improper under the lease or the facts of the payment history. In general, a landlord should not treat rent as late when it was actually received on time o...
Is it legal for a landlord to charge pet fees for a service animal?
In general, a landlord may not charge a pet fee, pet rent, or pet deposit for a true service animal because a service animal is usually not treated as an ordinary pet. Under fair housing rules, assistance animals are com...
How do I handle a notice to quit when I am in a month-to-month rental?
If you are in a month-to-month rental in Iowa and receive a notice to quit, the first step is usually to read it carefully and identify what it is asking you to do. In general, a notice to quit is a written notice that t...
Can a landlord send an old security deposit to the state if they cannot find my forwarding address?
In Ohio, a landlord usually does not simply “send” an old security deposit to the state just because they cannot find a tenant’s forwarding address. In general, the question turns on Ohio landlord-tenant law, what notice...
How do I prove my injury claim if there were no witnesses when I fell?
If no one saw you fall, you may still be able to support an injury claim with other evidence. In general, a claim does not depend on witness testimony alone. People often prove a fall by using medical records, photos, in...
Can a landlord charge me for pest treatment when the whole building has mice?
In Illinois, a landlord may not always be able to charge a tenant for pest treatment just because mice are present in the building. In general, the answer depends on the lease, the source of the infestation, and whether...