During the timeframe of a rental industry study, 1 out of 17 rental households experienced an eviction filing. This can happen due to a lot of circumstances, and you always need to be prepared if your landlord files for eviction against you. With this in mind, it will make sense to reach out to a landlord-tenant lawyer who can assist you. Follow these tips in order to hire the right attorney and push forward with any legal issues you might have. 

Learn the eviction laws and rights in your state

Every state has its own eviction laws. Starting with an understanding of these laws will help you have a foundation for your case. 

For instance, in New York, landlords have to give tenants exactly 2 weeks to respond to an eviction notice for non-payment prior to taking them to court. During this timeframe, the tenant has the time to pay the entire balance. If the eviction notice is due to breaking some form of the lease, such as smoking in a non-smoking building or having too many occupants, the tenant will then have 10 days to fix that problem before further actions can be taken. 

By understanding this law, you'll feel more empowered once you reach out to a landlord-tenant lawyer in your city.

Understand when discrimination situations may be at play

Another reason that people reach out to landlord-tenant lawyers is because of discrimination cases. Some instances of discrimination include refusing to rent to you based on your race or sex, experiencing harassment, being subject to an unfair or illegal lease or conditions, changing the terms of the agreement, and other matters. 

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) explains different forms of discrimination as laid out in the Fair Housing Act. It protects both parties and makes sure that no one is taken advantage of during a rental agreement. 

Bring in a landlord-tenant lawyer ASAP to get clarity on your situation

When it's time to protect your rights, you'll need to get help from a qualified legal professional. Landlord-tenant lawyers will typically charge you between about $225 per hour and $300 per hour. Ask them about billing options and payment plans that will help you to afford their services. 

Above all, be sure to vet the lawyer to make sure they're qualified to provide you help. Be sure to check with organizations such as the American Bar Association (ABA) and the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS) when you need to get leads on a prospective lawyer that can help you with your situation. 

Use these tips to get the help you need from a landlord-tenant attorney. 

For further tips and details, reach out to a company like Ferrecchia Law.

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