Landlord-Tenant Dispute Cost

Typical costs:

• For landlord-tenant disputes that can't be resolved informally, many areas provide free or low-cost mediation or arbitration services as an alternative to going to trial. Call your city manager's office or the housing agency and ask about local mediation or arbitration programs; many court systems will offer mediation as an option when you file a Small Claims Court case. If no free or low-cost program is available, the services of an arbitrator or mediator can cost anywhere from $80-$250 an hour; a typical session might last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. This cost is typically split by the parties involved in the dispute.
• One of the most common landlord-tenant disputes is when a landlord keeps the security deposit and the former tenants want their money back. If the amount involved is less than $2,500-$15,000 (the maximum varies by state), you may be able to handle the case yourself in Small Claims Court, usually without lawyers. (In some states it may be called Landlord-Tenant Court or Magistrate's Court.) Filing fees and other costs can run $20-$320 or more. At SmartMoneyDailly.com, a tenant describes his successful^[1] Small Claims Court experience.
• For disputes involving more money or other issues (such as needed repairs), a private attorney will typically charge $200-$500 an hour for assisting with a landlord-tenant dispute. The exact cost of having an attorney handled your landlord-tenant dispute will depend on the complexity of the case and the amount of time involved. If your budget is tight and you're fairly confident in handling this on your own with a bit of legal coaching, you may be able to find an attorney to meet with you for an hour or so on an occasional basis, to provide a bit of guidance. If other tenants are having similar problems with the landlord, you might want to hire the same attorney for a class-action lawsuit, or consider forming a tenants association^[2] .
• If you need legal assistance and can't afford an attorney, often Legal Aid or other agencies can provide free or low-cost help. The American Bar Association lists legal resources^[3] for each state. You can also contact your local consumer affairs or fair housing department for guidance.

• The landlord-tenant relationship is governed by state laws, which vary. Cornell University Law School gives a brief overview of landlord-tenant law and Nolo Press provides a list of each state's landlord-tenant statutes. FindLaw.com defines common terms and phrases^[4] in landlord-tenant arrangements.
• It's important to stay calm, try to keep communications open, and to document everything related to the dispute. If the dispute involves unhealthy or dangerous living conditions, contact your local housing or health department, or your state department of consumer affairs or attorney general.
• Nolo Press provides charts of what a landlord can legally deduct from a security deposit and state deadlines for returning security deposits, as well as discussing when a tenant should hire a lawyer.

• Some attorneys offer a free initial consultation, but others may charge their usual hourly rate.

• Check your lease for an "attorney's fee" clause allowing the winning party to recover legal fees from the losing party in a dispute.

• Ask about the attorney's training and experience. Lawyers.com explains how to find a tenant's lawyer^[5] .
• Referrals to a landlord-tenant attorney are available through Lawyers.com^[6] and FindLaw.com^[7] .
• Your attorney should provide you with a written fee agreement; be sure you understand what is included and any additional costs (court fees, clerical work) you might have to pay.

1.  www.smartmoneydaily.com/consumer/true-story-of-landlord-tenant-dispute.aspx
2.  tenantresourcecenter.org/pc/
3.  apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm
4.  realestate.findlaw.com/landlord-tenant-law/landlord-tenant-dictionary.html
5.  real-estate.lawyers.com/landlord-tenant-law/Finding-Legal-Help-As-A-Tenant.html
6.  www.lawyers.com/landlord-and-tenant-law/find-law-firms-by-location/
7.  lawyers.findlaw.com/lawyer/practice/Landlord_Tenant

Check Out All Costs for Personal Finance		How Much Does a Traffic Ticket Attorney Cost?		How Much Do Funeral Flowers Cost?		How Much Do Tax Returns Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

Repair leaks before the rain starts pouring. Fall begins Monday, September 23. How about backpacking? Sweating college admissions? SAT test prep can reduce some of the stress of the big test. Don't leave the dancing with the stars. Take a lesson. September is Chicken Month. Have you considered raising a unique pet?

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Bat bite Paid: 0.00 On October 25th I was bitten by a bat during mid morning, animal control told me to get the rabies shots due to the fact that several rabid bats had been found in the area... [more] -Rita W Rabies Vaccine Cost 7 stitches to shin Paid: 371.00 My son had 7 Stitches to his shin he fell in the woods and was cut by a old fence. They were super nice in and out, in about one hour. 155.00 for the visit and the remainder was for the Stitches ... [more] -Tavanna Stitches Cost 2 Car Garage Paid: 1700.00 Looks FANTASTIC! The guys done a fabulous job and did it in one day! Highly recommend! 615-739-2146... [more] -Chad Dunn Epoxy Flooring Cost Commercial Real Estate Brochure Paid: 200.00 Quick turn around time! 4 revisions with PDF and hyperlinks embedded. Website management available too... [more] [email protected] Graphic Designer Cost Fairly priced Paid: 0.00 My baby boy choked on some food this evening. While we were on the phone to the emergency services the blockage cleared. Ambulance was sent anyway to make sure everything was ok... [more] -Thank you NHS Ambulance Cost Ripped Off Paid: 46.00 I asked the nail technician how much for a full set. He said he will let me know as soon as he gets the nails on my fingers (WTH?) ... anyway on the board the price said $28 and up...... [more] -Kay. Manicures and Pedicures Cost