Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Browse published legal information questions related to Real Estate, Housing & Construction.
Is it legal for a landlord to serve an eviction notice through a maintenance worker?
In general, a landlord may be able to use another person to deliver an eviction notice, but whether that service is legally valid depends on the rules that apply in the specific jurisdiction and on the facts of the deliv...
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...
A repair shop wiped my laptop during a battery replacement. Can I claim lost files?
If a repair shop wiped your laptop during a battery replacement, you may have a possible claim for the lost files and any related losses, but the outcome usually depends on the facts. In Washington, the most important is...
What happens if my parked car was hit in my apartment lot and the complex has camera footage?
If your parked car was hit in an apartment lot in New Hampshire and the complex has camera footage, that footage may help show what happened, who was involved, and whether the other driver can be identified. In general,...
How do I handle an eviction notice when my roommate is the one who violated the lease?
If you live in North Carolina and your roommate violated the lease, an eviction notice can still affect you even if you did not cause the problem. In general, what happens next depends on the lease terms, who signed the...
Is it legal for a landlord in Alabama to keep my security deposit for normal carpet wear?
In general, a landlord in Alabama usually should not keep a security deposit just because carpet shows normal wear from ordinary use. Security deposits are commonly used to cover unpaid rent, lease violations, or damage...
Is it legal for a towing company to tow my car from my assigned apartment space?
In Tennessee, a towing company may be allowed to tow a car from an apartment space that is assigned to a tenant, but the answer usually depends on the lease, the parking rules, the signage, the apartment community’s towi...
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 I file an antiharassment protection order in Washington if my neighbor keeps yelling threats at me from the driveway?
In Washington, a person may be able to ask for an antiharassment protection order if another person engages in a course of conduct that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses them and that conduct serves no legitimate or...
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...
What are my rights if my landlord is charging $250 for cleaning even though I left the apartment spotless?
If you are in Idaho and your landlord is charging a $250 cleaning fee after move-out, your rights usually depend on your lease, the condition of the apartment, and whether the landlord is taking the charge from a securit...
Can I break my lease if my apartment has repeated flooding every time it rains?
In Maryland, repeated flooding in an apartment may sometimes give a tenant a basis to end a lease, but it depends heavily on the facts. The key question is usually whether the flooding is serious enough to make the home...
Is it legal for a repair shop to charge storage fees without telling me upfront?
In general, a repair shop may be able to charge storage fees, but whether it can do so without telling you upfront often depends on the facts, the repair agreement, local business practices, and Alaska law. A shop’s abil...
Is it legal for my landlord to send an eviction notice by text message only?
In Florida, a landlord’s text message may be a warning or a communication about a rental problem, but it is not always the same thing as a legally effective eviction notice. Whether a text message-only notice is valid us...
How do I handle a warranty company that keeps delaying repairs for months?
If a warranty company keeps delaying repairs for months, the first step is usually to document everything carefully. Keep copies of the warranty, repair requests, inspection notes, emails, text messages, call logs, and a...