Maryland Landlord Tenant Attorney
Our Maryland Landlord and Tenant Attorney Can Help You Avoid Problems
Landlord and Tenant Lawyer
Becoming a landlord is a practical way to earn income and put your property to good use. But this isn’t something that you should rush into or decide hastily. There are many considerations and landlord-tenant laws and regulations that future landlords must think about before diving headfirst into turning a property into a rental. Likewise, for businesses and individuals who want to rent a property instead of purchasing, these considerations are equally important.
If you are considering becoming a landlord or reshaping your current property management strategy, or if you are facing legal issues with your tenants or landlord, the attorneys at Lusk Law, LLC can provide you with skilled, experienced counsel to develop and execute a plan that fits your best interests.
Maryland attorneys, Rebekah Lusk and Steven Bright, who lead our landlord and tenant practice, are also landlords themselves. So, our knowledge comes not just from our legal background, but also from first-hand experience. We have helped many landlord and tenant clients in both commercial and residential legal matters. To learn more about how we can assist you, call (443) 535-9715 or fill out our online form.
For Landlords
Having a landlord-tenant attorney that understands the challenges specific to being a landlord is an invaluable asset. We have a deep understanding of what it takes to protect a landlord from the possibility of litigation. The language used in drafting leases, for example, can prove to be instrumental in the protection of your property and your assets. You may wonder why you should bother hiring an attorney when you can download a boilerplate lease from the internet for free. Here’s why: A custom lease, created in consultation with an attorney knowledgeable about Maryland landlord-tenant law, has the power to limit the number of disputes that can arise in your dealings with tenants — and protect you if you are sued. And that is money in the bank for you.
If litigation does occur — whether the issue is a contract breach, collection problems, claims of violation of county or state laws, or any other type of dispute — between you and a tenant, the attorneys at Lusk Law, LLC can assist you throughout all aspects of the case, up to and including skillfully representing your interests in the courtroom.
Lusk Law, LLC handles cases in landlord-tenant court, District Court, Circuit Court, and handled landlord-tenant appeals at the Appellate Court of Maryland. We manage a wide variety of cases. including failure to pay rent, wrongful detainer, tenant holding over, breach of lease, and violations of the Consumer Protection Act. Our firm’s extensive experience with handling landlord-tenant matters in court means that you will have experienced and knowledgeable counsel assisting you every step of the way.
For Tenants
We are tenants’ rights lawyers as well.
At Lusk Law, LLC, we are also happy to put our experience to use for clients who rent property — whether commercially or residentially. Many of our clients turn to us for help regarding the leases they are considering for their company or for their own residence. By hiring a skilled, experienced attorney familiar with all aspects of rental property, you can be sure that your best interests are being looked after before you enter an agreement with the property owner. Additionally, if disputes arise with the owner of the property for failure to make repairs, unsafe conditions, or other issues regarding the terms of the contract, our tenants’ rights lawyers can assist you by negotiating with the landlord directly or representing you in court.
We can help you if your landlord has violated federal or Maryland laws that provide tenants with:
- the right to freedom from housing discrimination, based on protected classes such as race, color, religion, disability, marital status, national origin, or sex
- a right to certain security deposit protections,
- the right to freedom from landlord retaliation, and
- the right to be protected after domestic violence.
For Property Owners
For property owners, the decision to become a landlord is a common one.
Whether you have made the decision to become a landlord, rent property for your business, or are considering what the best course of action might be for your own personal or professional endeavor, consulting our landlord and tenant law attorneys will ensure that you start off on the right foot. We can help you resolve or litigate disputes, depending on your needs and preferences, and make sure that you and your interests are protected. Some of our clients come to us because they need legal representation in landlord-tenant disputes, but many of our existing clients also approach us for counsel regarding issues related to real estate, leases, and rental properties, prior to any dispute.
As landlord-tenants and attorneys, Rebekah Lusk and Steven Bright’s property ownership experience will work to your benefit. We are intimately familiar with all stages of landlord/tenant relations and will be able to assist you in any stage of drafting contracts and settling disputes or rent collection issues. Contact us via our website or call (443) 535-9715 to learn more about how we can help you with our deep knowledge of Maryland landlord-tenant law.
Why You Need a Property Attorney
Our Maryland landlord tenant attorney can help ensure that everything is done legally and correctly from the start and take care of any problems that may arise in the landlord/tenant relationship.
When it comes to property law, the devil is very much in the details. If you’ve ever looked over a contract and felt overwhelmed by the language, you’re not alone. Many property owners, buyers, landlords, and renters have run into problems simply because they either failed to thoroughly review the details of a document or neglected to draft the right language in a contract.
How Our Property Attorneys Can Help You
Hiring a skilled property attorney is the best way to ensure that your interests are protected. At Lusk Law, LLC, we can:
- Review and draft all documents to make sure that you know exactly what you’re agreeing to and that they are customized to your needs
- Keep you in alignment with the law and with the best practices of the industry
- Help you determine the best way to resolve lease disputes
- Handle all legal issues that may arise and advocate for you in any disputes or lawsuits
- Help you determine when you can or cannot evict a tenant.
Don’t leave anything to chance when it comes to property agreements. Contact Lusk Law, LLC at (443) 535-9715 to schedule an appointment.
Our Landlord Tenant Attorney Can Draft and Review Commercial Leases
A commercial lease is a binding agreement that should be mutually beneficial to the tenant and landlord. A lease should also be specific to a property and to the parties involved – there is no “standard” when it comes to commercial leases, and using a vague, non-specific lease can lead to legal headaches for all parties involved.
There are two types of commercial leases: gross and net. Gross leases include all of the property owner’s costs – insurance, property taxes, and maintenance – in the monthly rent payment. Net leases require the tenant to pay for some or all of those costs. Many commercial leases are hybrid documents that include aspects of both gross and net leases. At Lusk Law, LLC, our commercial lease attorneys will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of each type of lease and which is best suited to your situation. Call us today to learn more.
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Our Maryland Landlord Tenant Lawyer Answers Frequently Asked Questions
The following are answers to questions our landlord and tenant clients often ask.
A landlord-tenant attorney who specializes in the legal issues surrounding landlord and tenant rights, drafting leases, and resolving disputes is your best bet to handle landlord issues. Even if you are an experienced landlord, problems arise; a landlord tenant attorney will guide you through the challenges of managing your rental property, from drafting a lease agreement to handling an eviction.
Maryland laws dealing with landlord requirements can be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Real Property, Title 8: Landlord and Tenant and cover:
- Security deposits and surety bonds
- The right of tenant to possession at beginning of lease
- The requirement for a landlord to give tenants receipts
- Automatic renewal provisions in a lease
- The need to reduce lead hazards
- Prohibitions against landlords from retaliating against tenants and making retaliatory evictions
- The requirements of landlords to repair dangerous defects.
Landlords are legally required to disclose specific information to tenants such as the tenant’s rights to move-in and move-out inspections and the identity of anyone authorized to act on the landlord’s behalf. This is usually in the lease or rental agreement.
Landlords are required to use a written lease if the tenancy is going to be for a year or longer or if the landlord owns five units or more.
There are two-month rent limits to how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit, and deposits must be returned or a letter sent regarding if the security deposit is being withheld, within 45 days after a tenant moves.
There are laws landlords must follow that regulate rent-related issues, including late fees, notice landlords must give tenants to raise the rent, and when tenants may withhold rent for failure to take care of important repairs.
There are laws that specify when and how a landlord may terminate a tenant and laws that provide protection against landlord retaliation for the tenant’s exercising a legal right, such as complaining about an unsafe living condition.
In addition, individual cities and counties may have local ordinances, such as rent-control rules, health and safety standards, noise and nuisance regulations, and antidiscrimination rules.
State law requires that a landlord who offers five or more dwelling units for rent in Maryland must include in each lease a statement that the premises will be available in a reasonably safe, habitable condition; or, if that is not the agreement, a statement concerning the condition of the premises. Landlords are responsible for paying for repairs that maintain the property in this safe, habitable condition. Tenants may withhold rent for failure to take care of important repairs, if Tenants have filed a rent escrow and the Court has permitted the Tenants to pay the rent into the Court, while the repairs are being made.
There is a minimum livability code in Maryland title 12, Subtitle 2 section 12-203 that requires that each political subdivision adopt a local housing code that sets minimum property maintenance standards for housing in the subdivision.
The Minimum Livability Code shall include minimum standards for:
- basic equipment and facilities used for light, ventilation, heat, and sanitation; and
- safe and sanitary maintenance of residential structures and premises.
What Makes a Good Maryland Landlord and Tenant Lawyer?
A good landlord/tenant lawyer is thorough, analytical and assertive. They have a deep understanding of the law and their client’s needs. Skilled attorneys have spent years learning the common pitfalls their clients might encounter, and they use this knowledge to steer their clients clear of unnecessary mistakes.
At Lusk Law, LLC, we’ve established trust with our clients by delivering consistent results.
We make it a priority to build relationships based on the superior quality of our work and excellent customer service.
How We Can Help with Your Landlord-Tenant Law and Property Litigation Issues
At Lusk Law, LLC, we help our clients avoid mistakes that lead to disputes, and we work to resolve them if they do arise.
Our firm offers clients a variety of services involving landlord-tenant law. We assist clients with property-related issues to make sure they are on sound legal footing and their interests are being looked after. And our clients also know that they can come to us for assistance with other legal issues, whether they be business or personal matters.
By providing dependable legal representation in landlord-tenant law that spans several areas of the law, we have built long-lasting relationships with our clients. We’re proud of our ability to help clients in so many facets of their lives. They know that we’ll respond quickly to their requests and that we’ll deliver exceptional results in a timely manner.
Helping Landlords
We can help our landlord clients through all matters related to their property. Being a landlord can be very difficult, so we make sure that our clients don’t need to worry about being in compliance with Maryland law and that all their contracts are drafted with their business’s best interests in mind.
Landlords come to us with several types of legal issues, from tenant-screening questions to disputes over leases. Being both landlords and attorneys, Rebekah Lusk and Steven Bright of Lusk Law, LLC are deeply familiar with potential problems. They don’t only help clients solve their immediate conflicts but also make sure that they avoid these pitfalls going forward.
Protecting Landlord Rights
Whether dealing with problematic tenants or complying with regulations, landlords often feel as though they have fewer rights than their tenants. However, it is important to realize that the law can also be on your side. So much of a landlord’s legal options depend on the lease they have with tenants, so it’s vital to properly draft these documents before you rent a property. Regardless of your situation, you should always consider your legal options if you have problems with tenants or the authorities.
At Lusk Law, LLC, we stand up for the rights of our clients. We protect our landlords to make sure that they aren’t taken advantage of by their tenants and that they have every opportunity to meet Maryland’s regulatory standards. Call our law offices at (443) 535-9715.
Cost-Effective Solutions for Your Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law Questions
A landlord’s mistakes can be costly for their bottom line, their reputation and the future of their business. By helping our clients avoid these mistakes, we help their businesses succeed. We also understand that overly expensive legal representation presents an entirely new set of challenges that most landlords and business owners must deal with. That’s why we make efforts to keep our fees reasonable for our clients.
By helping landlords avoid costly mistakes and charging reasonable fees, we enable them to invest their money where they feel it is best for them and their business. We also build relationships based on trust. Our clients know that we will always look out for their interests and provide them with sound legal advice in many different areas of the law.
If you want to learn more about our services, we encourage you to contact Lusk Law, LLC to speak with us today. We help clients in Frederick, Carroll, Washington, Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties and Baltimore City with several types of legal matters and are advocates for life’s obstacles and opportunities. Give our Maryland landlord and tenant attorneys a call at (443) 535-9715 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment with us.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“I was involved in a landlord tenant issue when I was working in Baltimore. After two years, the landlord filed the complaint again after I moved to Denver. I contacted Rebekah, she collected the information readily, and layed out all the options for me. She has been very gracious, patient and professional through out the whole process. Eventually, the case was settled within 3 weeks. Overall, my experience with Lusk Law, LLC was fabulous and I highly recommend them. – Hengbo Z.
Attorney Rebekah Damen Lusk
Rebekah Damen Lusk is the Founder and Managing Member of Lusk Law, LLC. Rebekah brings personal experiences as a small business owner, real estate investor, landlord, and farm owner to the task of practicing law and working with clients. Her practice areas include general civil litigation, business, employment, landlord/tenant, real estate, and equine/animal law. [ Attorney Bio ]
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