Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, there may come a time when it is time to lawyer up. You may be a landlord wishing to evict a problematic tenant. You might be a tenant facing unfair eviction from a landlord that is acting beyond the bounds of the law. You may be wishing to settle a dispute within your apartment building or between yourself and another resident on your property.
Whatever the reason, hiring the right landlord and tenant lawyer is essential for getting the outcome you want. If you want to find the best landlord and tenant lawyer for your needs, read on to find out exactly how to do it.
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Understand Why You Need a Landlord and Tenant Lawyer
When deciding when to hire a tenant lawyer, you need to clearly identify the exact purpose for which you are lawyering up. This will ensure that you find a landlord lawyer or tenant lawyer that has proven experience dealing with cases such as yours. It is not too difficult to find this information.
For example, the Suzanne Desrosiers Professional Corporation firm lists in detail all of the landlord and tenant cases they handle, such as evictions, subletting, demolitions, conversions, and rental arrears. Always confirm that a lawyer has experience with cases such as yours.
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Ask for Referrals
When you are searching for a lawyer, your first resource should be those that you know. Reach out to family, friends, and colleagues to ask if they have ever hired and landlord and tenant lawyer. It is not unlikely that they will have. Once you have identified people close to you who have hired a lawyer for a landlord or tenant dispute, you can ask them to refer you to a good one. This is often the best approach.
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Always Check Reviews and Look for Testimonials
If you cannot get a decent referral from somebody you know, then always vet any lawyer thoroughly before hiring them. Any lawyer should have a wealth of online reviews and testimonials from previous customers. If these are not easy to find online, do not hesitate to ask your potential lawyer to refer you to some previous clients, so that you can ask them for yourself. If they have a lot of happy customers, you know when to hire a landlord lawyer.
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Ask Lots of Questions
Finally, it is essential that you come prepared with all of the important questions that you need to ask your lawyer before you let them take on your case. There are no stupid questions and there should be no limit on the number of questions you ask. Important questions to ask a landlord and tenant lawyer include:
- What are your retainer and fee structure?
- Do I still pay if I lose?
- Have you dealt with landlord-tenant disputes such as mine before? What was the outcome?
- Have your previous cases involved properties such as mine (i.e. multi-dwelling unit, large home, etc.)?
- Do you have any conflicts of interest in this case?
- How will we communicate?
- Will this definitely go to trial? What are the alternatives?
Your Home Questions, Answered
Now that you know everything you need to know about hiring a landlord and tenant lawyer, we stand ready to answer all of the other housing questions that you might have. In our regularly-updated Home & Garden section, you will find all of the latest tips, trends, and advice you might need to ensure happy, secure living in 2021 and beyond.
