Navigating rental property agreements, whether commercial or residential, in unprecedented times calls for extraordinary guidance. COVID-19 has upended the regulation of rental relationships as we once knew it. By helping make sense of ever-evolving laws and moratoriums, Glasson Legal provides guidance to rental property owners and managers, and real estate professional in a cohesive, easily consumable fashion.
Serving the Greater Seattle Area, we can assist you across a wide spectrum of legal issues, regardless of whether you own a house, duplex, apartment, storefront, or larger commercial space. Our expertise includes the following areas to help ensure all parties enjoy a beneficial, equitable, and legal property arrangement.
Creation of Rental Agreement Documents
Negotiation and drafting of a strong lease are important for all parties in a transaction. That said, a landlord is typically the one drafting the agreement, and ambiguities in the document may be interpreted against you. In Washington at large and, more rigorously, in Seattle, there are many statutory requirements that must be contained within a rental agreement, as well as several more that can be suggested in order to avoid future issues that may arise with your tenant. Our exhaustive review and crafting of leasing documents can help highlight problem areas and clear up disputes before they arise.
Security Deposits
In order to protect against possible damages to property, it is generally in the landlord’s best interest as to require a security deposit. With this protection also comes a host of legal requirements as to the size of the deposit, how it is kept, and under what circumstances it must be returned. A short time consulting with us now can save you a lot of trouble down the line, and make sure that your interests are protected.
Discrimination
Washington landlords operate under a host of anti-discrimination laws and must follow all local, state and federal statutes. Such statutes include: Fair Housing Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Moreover, Seattle has stringent requirements about what a prospective residential tenant can be screened for, and even regarding which tenant can be selected based upon their application order. Before you list a property for rent, a discussion with us can assist in becoming compliant with these anti-discrimination provisions.
Repairs, Maintenance and General Condition of Residential Rental Property
The law requires that all rental premises meet certain standards before they can be rented and that the condition of the premises is maintained throughout the rental period. While this sounds relatively straightforward, standards such as “habitable” or who caused certain problems at a rental unit are issues fraught with disputes. We are experienced in not only litigation but in determining when such action is cost-effective. Regardless of your issue, we can assist with proactively safeguarding your rights and taking action if necessary.
Unlawful Detainer, Eviction, & Collection of Back Rent Owed
One of the most exhaustive, trying, but necessary duties of a landlord are evicting tenants. Requirements for removal of a tenant change dramatically depending on the city and county where the rental unit is located. These rigid requirements must be met completely; notices must be properly prepared and served, deadlines are unforgiving, documentation is specialized, and if the law is not followed to the letter, you may encounter costly delays, lose your eviction action and worse, be sued by the tenant for wrongful eviction, safe to say this court-supervised process is fraught with risks. When rental relationships fail, Glasson Legal can help ensure there are no procedural missteps.
We Are Here to Help
From assisting you with initially setting up the rental of property you own to litigation, we are here to help. We are not interested in enlarging a dispute or opening gaps to create one – our aim is to try to manage relationships in order to achieve your goals as inexpensively and quickly as possible.
