Considering Leasing Property in the Twin Cities?

Let our Minneapolis and St. Paul Real Estate Lawyers Help

Before signing a lease,have the St. Paul and Minneapolis real estate lawyers at Steven H. Snyder & Associates review the lease. Often, landlords and property management companies use a standard format lease. A standard format lease may have clauses in it that do not or should not apply to you or that could hold the renter responsible for damages that were not caused by the renter.

Because a lease usually contains a clause stating that the renter is responsible for any damages other than wear and tear damages, the prospective renter should document the condition of the rental. At or prior to the signing of a lease, take pictures of any damages to the rental, including the carpet, especially if it looks worn out or is torn in places.

What to Look For in a Lease

A lease should have stipulations as to what the landlord and the tenant will pay. Our St. Paul and Minneapolis real estate lawyer will review these stipulations and let you know whether you should sign the lease as-is or ask for one or more of the stipulations to be removed or edited.

Other important things that should be in the lease include:

• Monthly rental amount
• Taxes, if not included in the monthly rental amount
• Amount of security deposit (including first and last, if applicable)
• Pet restrictions (including pet deposits, if applicable)
• Late fees
• Reasons for eviction
• Other restrictions (if leasing a home, it may be in an area with a homeowner’s association, and the lease should refer the renter to the association’s guidelines and rules)

Lease Litigation

Our Twin Cities real estate lawyers can represent a landlord or a tenant in litigation. Landlords may file a lawsuit or eviction, if a tenant breaks a lease or if a tenant does not pay his or her rent.

If a landlord tries to evict a tenant for no particular reason or for a reason that is against the law, a tenant needs to contact a qualified Minneapolis real estate lawyer regarding his or her rights. A landlord cannot discriminate based on creed, color, race or sex when leasing a property.