Landlord/Tenant Relations

DEFINITION

A written lease usually controls most landlord/tenant disputes. The written lease is the most important document in any landlord/tenant case.

EVICTION

Georgia law and the terms of the lease itself often allow tenants to remain in the leased property even if they are not paying rent. Unfortunately, eviction is only the first step in a landlord tenant dispute. When the tenant leaves, there is sometimes damage to the property that needs repair and a balance of unpaid rent for the term of the lease.

WHEN TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY

It is usually necessary to aggressively litigate in these circumstances to require the tenants to comply with their contractual obligations. Judgment collection is often required in order to collect unpaid rent from the tenant. The eviction proceedings are routinely done on an hourly corporate rate, and the unpaid rent collection is sometimes done on a contingent fee basis. One tip in the collection effort is to review copies of the tenant's cancelled checks to determine whether the tenant has used multiple accounts to pay rent. Sometimes other entities may be sued for unpaid rent. Cancelled checks from any account also serve as useful information for garnishment purposes.

INFORMATION NEEDED BY RANDY RICH

Whether your tenant is residential or commercial, Randy Rich has experience in representing your interests. He is local counsel for asset management companies both in and outside the state of Georgia. Before any advice can be given, you will need to fax or mail a copy of your lease to Mr. Rich for review. Randy Rich has represented Landlords in disputes involving tenants for ten years.