If you’re about to rent a house or an apassets/ment, you will sign a binding contract obligating you to pay tens of thousands of dollars. Smassets/ people know that paying a lawyer to review a contract before signing it is money well spent.

I am one of the few lawyers devoting a substantial percentage of his or her practice to working with tenants. If you consult with me before you rent, I can help you understand and protect your rights and avoid costly mistakes regarding:

• Rental Agreements and Leases
• Rent Control
• Roommate Issues
• Security Deposits

Although I can’t guarantee it, I can often suggest and negotiate lease modifications that save you enough money to cover my fee!

Once you’ve rented, I can advise you on how to protect your rights and resolve any disputes that arise, including those involving:

• Repairs and Habitability
• Rent Payments and Increases
• Harassment by Landlords
• Reduction in Amenities and Services
• Subleases and Roommates
• Problematic Neighbors
• Security Deposits

These disputes have a nasty habit of mushrooming into eviction lawsuits. Eviction lawsuits are always expensive to defend, and eviction court is not tenant-friendly. Therefore, prudence dictates that you allow me to craft a strategy for solving your problem that doesn’t expose you to eviction.

If you do receive an eviction notice or lawsuit, call me immediately! I can:

• Help You Respond to an Eviction Notice
• Explain the Eviction Process and Potential Defenses to You
• Help you Prepare and File Court Papers and Represent Yourself
• Defend You in Court

The worst thing you can do is ignore a notice or lawsuit and blow a deadline! Even if you haven’t paid your rent, there are many defenses you can raise. I have years of experience defending tenants and often win cases that appear hopeless. And if your case is weak, I can often buy you time to move, reduce the damages you’ll pay, and prevent entry of a judgment against you.