What do I need to know about suing a landlord?

What do I need to know about suing a landlord?

Landlord-tenant relationships are, for the most part, going to be based on the contract you've made on your lease, so you need to read your lease carefully and make certain what rights you have under the lease. However, the lease doesn't necessarily define all of your rights. There are some rights that you have that are implied by law. That could either be an city ordinance, sometimes on a rent control ordinance or rent stabilization ordinance. It could be in a state statute or sometimes we have rights that are developed in case law in our common law that you have as well. Those are going to be the first places you're going to look to determine what your rights are. Sometimes you may be able to find local organizations that will give you free advice: legal aid organizations of various kinds. It may be run by a local bar association. It may be run by some sort of religious organization. It may be run by a county bar association, where you can call to get some assistance. Again, if there's a rent control ordinance, or a rent stabilization ordinance, call the city office that runs that to find out if there is some law that applies to your particular problem.