Landlord/Tenant Disputes

Silver Spring, Maryland Real Estate Attorney

Landlords that own properties and Tenants that live in them have certain rights and duties they must abide by depending on the lease agreement. If any of these duties are broken by the landlord or the tenant, it may be taken to court if unable to reach a negotiable settlement.

Landlord Duties include, but not limited to,:

• Provide for the maintenance of health, safety, and welfare of tenants
• Keep all common areas of a multi-family rental property in a clean and safe condition
• Maintain electrical, plumbing, and other equipment in good working condition
• Provide notices to tenant of any changes

Tenant Duties include, but not limited to,:

• Pay rent on time
• Keep rental property clean
• Do not damage or permit anyone else to damage property (waste)
• Inform landlord promptly of any defects or problems at the rental property

Eviction

Eviction is the court ordered removal of the tenant and the tenant’s personal belongings from a rental property. Landlords may evict the tenant from their unit if the tenant fails to abide by their duties and responsibilities. This includes but not limited to not paying rent on time, damages to property, violating the term of lease, or illegal activity within the unit as stated in the lease agreement. A landlord cannot evict a tenant without a court order, and the tenant will have the opportunity to be heard in court if the tenant feels the landlord has no right to them.

Landlord/Tenant Lawyer

It is recommended that landlords and tenants have an experienced attorney to represent them in their case. An attorney will represent your case in court; evaluate the case and determine the legal matter to build a strong case. The attorney will talk to the opposing party before hand, with the possibility of coming to an agreement without having to go to court.