Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Browse published legal information questions related to Real Estate, Housing & Construction.
Is it legal for an apartment to charge a mandatory valet trash fee I never agreed to?
In general, an apartment complex may charge a valet trash fee if the fee was part of your lease, a lease addendum, or another agreement you accepted. If you never agreed to the fee, the main question is usually whether t...
Is it legal for a dealership to refuse to fix a warranty issue because I missed one oil change?
In general, a dealership or manufacturer may not be able to deny warranty coverage for every missed oil change automatically. The key question is usually whether the missed service actually caused or contributed to the p...
Can my landlord charge me a $500 repainting fee when I only lived there for eight months and didn’t damage the walls?
In California, a landlord usually cannot charge a tenant for ordinary wear and tear, but a repainting charge may be allowed if the landlord can show the paint damage went beyond normal use. The fact that you lived there...
Can I sue a contractor for poor workmanship if I do not have a formal contract?
In Montana, and in many other states, the absence of a formal written contract does not always mean you have no legal claim against a contractor. In general, disputes over home repairs, renovations, or construction work...
Do I have to pay rent if my landlord failed to fix a broken heater during winter?
In Washington, a broken heater during winter can raise serious habitability concerns, but it does not automatically mean rent can be withheld without risk. In general, tenants still need to be careful about withholding r...
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...
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...
My Contractor Damaged a Neighbor’s Property — Am I Responsible?
In general, if a contractor you hired damages a neighbor’s property in Oregon, you may still face questions about responsibility. The answer often depends on who caused the damage, what the contractor was doing, whether...
Do I have to get consent before recording a mediation session about a consumer dispute in California?
In California, the safest general answer is usually yes: you should assume you need clear consent before recording a mediation session, especially if the session is confidential or involves private dispute-resolution com...
What Can I Do If a Delivery Company Damaged My Property?
If a delivery company damaged your property, you may have options to ask for repair or replacement costs, submit a claim, or seek other remedies depending on the facts. In general, the most important first step is to doc...
Do I have to pay late fees listed on a pay-or-quit notice before the deadline?
In Pennsylvania, whether you have to pay late fees listed on a pay-or-quit notice before the deadline usually depends on the lease, the type of fee, and whether the fee is legally enforceable. A pay-or-quit notice is gen...
Do I have to pay rent if construction blocks access to my apartment?
If construction blocks access to your apartment, the rent question often depends on how serious the obstruction is, how long it lasts, and what it does to your use of the unit. In general, a tenant is still expected to p...
Can I record a phone call with my landlord if I tell them at the beginning and they keep talking?
In California, the answer is usually no unless the legal recording rules are satisfied. California is generally considered a two-party consent state, which means you often need the other person’s consent before recording...
What are my rights if a used car dealer sold me a truck with undisclosed flood damage?
If you bought a used truck in Alabama and later learned it had flood damage that was not disclosed, you may have several possible legal and practical options depending on the facts. In general, buyers may have claims if...
Can I Stop Payment on a Check to a Contractor Who Did Bad Work?
In general, you may be able to stop payment on a check to a contractor, but whether that is a good or lawful option depends on the facts, your agreement, and Hawaii law. A stop-payment order usually tells your bank not t...