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

April is craft month. We have the cost of scrapbooking and other crafts. Looking for help to take care of your garden? How much does garden service cost. If you want a spring or summer wedding, now is the time to pin down the location. A BBQ grill could be handy to enjoy backyard activities during the summer months. Spring has sprung. Are you thinking about allergy shots?

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

Didn't hurt the pocketbook Paid: 43.00 I called my dentist because my tooth had been hurting for a week and a half. I couldn't eat or sleep. It was horrible. They got me in the next day. The dental surgeon and staff took x-rays, verified that it indeed needed to come out... [more] -Anxious in Augusta Tooth Extraction Cost Current cost of skirting job 2022 Paid: 2356.00 Purchased material @ mobile home supply store Front/back top trim & ground track 17 each [email protected]$9= $459. 48 [email protected]$17= $816. [email protected]$40 [email protected] $20 tax $121. Total material $1456. 3 guys total $75 hour labor at 12 hours $900 labor... [more] -Fayard siding Mobile Home Skirting Cost Alatel joy tab2 Paid: 108.00 Cracked screen... [more] -Shawn P Speers Tablet Repair Cost Replace 2baths, laundry, and kitchen to the street Paid: 20000.00 Numerous breaks in 90 year old cast iron and also in the clay pipe. replaced with 4" schedule 40 ABS to the curb and then liner in the clay pipe to the city sewer... [more] -Steve in 2022 Sewer Line Replacement Cost Full mouth -Is this estimate too much? Paid: 16945.00 Extract buttom front teeth, replace with single implant for both teeth. Root canals and crowns needed for 3 molars, fillings needed on 11 teeth. Deep cleaning with 4 spots of Arestin and fluoride treatment. All under IV sedation... [more] -Shanmarspag Dental Work Cost Lockout at front door Paid: 175.00 I was quoted $29 for a service call. The techniciandidn't give me a price but went ahead with the repair. It took about 10 minutes. Then he told me the charge was because the owner of the business gets most of the money I paid... [more] -Carla Axelrod Locksmith Cost