I'm dealing with a situation and need some guidance.
title issue discovered after closing. I've been dealing with this for about 16 months now and the situation isn't improving.
Should I hire a lawyer for this or try to handle it myself?
Licensed attorney — a few thoughts. Here's my take on the legal issues.
Based on what you've described, you likely have a viable claim under state landlord-tenant code. The standard is whether a reasonable person would find the conduct in violation of notice requirements.
I'd recommend documenting everything in writing from this point forward. Keep copies of all communications.
I've dealt with this before.
I ended up hiring an attorney to send the initial letter, which cost about $2-4 but saved me a lot more in the long run.
Illegal lockout update: my landlord changed the locks while I was at work. In California, this is a criminal offense (Penal Code 418) and can result in actual damages, statutory damages up to $100/day, and attorney's fees.
Saving this thread. The legal community on this forum is genuinely helpful. Much better than the Reddit legal advice sub where half the responses are 'get a lawyer' with no actual substance.
Security deposit disputes are often worth pursuing even for small amounts because many states award 2-3x the deposit as penalties if the landlord acted in bad faith. Plus attorney's fees in some states.