Landlord-Tenant Attorneys in Denver

Helping You Avoid Costly Legal Disputes

When landlords choose unethical practices to manage their properties—and tenant relationships—it’s often at the continued expense of other landlords and the reputation of the industry.

While not all landlords conduct business this way, this misguided thinking is one of the reasons landlord-tenant agreements are more complex in nature and can cause a wide variety of disputes.

Landlords and tenants both have legal rights and responsibilities, though a few bad apples, so to speak, are one of the reasons there’s more legal protection for tenants—and not landlords.

What every landlord-tenant situation has in common, however, is a clear need to understand and respect certain boundaries and responsibilities of both parties when entering into a property agreement.

The Ragab Law Firm, P.C. and our team of landlord-tenant lawyers are well-versed in property law. We help mediate issues between landlords and tenants as they arise and help landlords with carefully crafted and legally-structured agreements to minimize their risk and avoid costly legal battles.

If you need advice or legal counsel on your landlord or tenant issue, call Ragab Law Firm, P.C., at 303-557-2011. Please note that Landlord/Tenant Consults are subject to a $500 fee.

What are Common Tenant Concerns?

Landlords have certain legal obligations as part of a landlord-tenant agreement. Tenants might file a dispute when landlords aren’t responsive to issues or don’t attempt to maintain the property, among other things.

Disputes over landlord-tenant law can come from a variety of places, though some situations are legally sound, while others are not and should first be reviewed by our landlord-tenant lawyers. These are some of the most common tenant concerns that can lead to legal disputes:

Condition of a property, including holes in roofs, cracked windows, or general damage
Issues with water service, electricity, or other utilities
Faulty doors or locks, garage doors, and other safety concerns
Broken refrigerators, leaky dishwashers, and faucets,
In a multi-family building, noisy neighbors or any poor behavior that might disrupt other tenants
Mold problems that might cause health conditions
Infestation of pests that cause unsanitary conditions and possible health and safety concerns
Withholding rent when property issues are not addressed or not paying last month’s rent to get a security deposit back
Sudden eviction
Discrimination when trying to rent an apartment, or during the tenancy as a result of race, gender, sexuality, or another factor

Whether you’re an experienced landlord or you’re just getting started, a landlord-tenant attorney at Ragab Law Firm, P.C. can advise you on how to protect and manage your property to prevent pitfalls.

What are Examples of Landlord Disputes?

Owning a property or multiple properties can be a great investment, though it doesn’t come without risks. Tenants might break a landlord-tenant agreement for a variety of reasons, causing a landlord to file a lawsuit to recover any damages or lost revenue.

These are some typical examples of why a landlord might have reasonable cause to sue a tenant:

Breaking a lease and moving out early
Unpaid rent that can’t be covered by the security deposit
Non-payment of utility bills the landlord is not responsible for
Unapproved alterations to the property that go against the lease agreement
Property damage

Any cases that go to court will be on your record, which works to your advantage should a tenant try to counter-sue.

In less serious cases, tenants might break certain rules that lead to landlord-tenant disputes. These might include non-payment or late rent, housing pets despite the contract, and engaging in criminal activity that disrupts neighbors and impacts the overall property value.

If you’re currently dealing with a troublesome tenant and need legal advice to manage a tenant issue or avoid future disputes, contact our landlord-tenant lawyers with Ragab Law Firm, P.C. today at 303-557-2011.

How Can I Prevent Tenant Legal Disputes?

Bad tenants are simply a liability. When all is said and done, they might cost you thousands of dollars, as the cost to hire attorneys, pay court fees, repair the unit, and clean up for the next tenant adds up quickly.

As an example, the average cost of an eviction alone starts at $3,500. That doesn’t include costs for a lawsuit, which might require more time, money, and legal fees.

Proper planning and engaging the help of our landlord-tenant lawyers with Ragab Law Firm, P.C., is one way to avoid landlord-tenant disputes. We can also create a carefully crafted legal agreement to protect you in the event of tenant problems.

These are steps you can take before placing a tenant:

Thorough screening, including background check and previous landlord references
Proactively market your property, so you have time and space to interview possible tenants and avoid a rush
Increasing the security deposit, in accordance with Colorado law
Work with our attorneys for real estate claims to draft a lease agreement
When showing the property, have an attorney-approved checklist of general rules and guidelines for the property to effectively communicate upfront
Encourage tenants to take photos of the property beforehand
Have tenants sign that they’ve walked through the property
Consider hiring a property management firm to deal with tenants directly as another layer of protection

This goes without saying, but none of the above matters if, as a landlord, you aren’t caring for your property as you say you will. As long as you are respecting your tenants, this will go a long way in avoiding disputes, in addition to protecting yourself with an experienced property law attorney and the right legal documents.

Talk with a Landlord-Tenant Lawyer Today

As a landlord and a tenant, you want to create a mutually beneficial relationship during your tenancy. The goal of a landlord-tenant lawyer is always a conflict-free arrangement.

To create this type of experience, both tenants and landlords must do their part in following the lease agreement and commit to transparent and respectful communication to resolve any issues as they arise and avoid more serious and costly situations like lawsuits and court.

Ragab Law Firm, P.C. and our landlord-tenant attorneys can help landlords and tenants protect their rights and effectively resolve landlord and tenant disputes on both sides as a result of not adhering to the contract in one way or another.

Landlords can rely on us to effectively resolve poor tenant issues and draft legally sound lease agreements that minimize liability. Tenants can also use our services to work with their landlords and reach an agreeable solution for all parties.

If you’re faced with a tenant or landlord dispute, get clarity on your issue and talk with one of our experienced landlord-tenant lawyers today.