When you are leasing out commercial property, a landlord-tenant dispute is something you have to be prepared to deal with. There are many potential reasons for such arguments, but they can all be handled in a similar way. You just need to keep calm and be ready to take some advice from our Long Island, NY commercial landlord-tenant dispute lawyers.
How Should You Approach a Landlord-Tenant Dispute?
The key to handling landlord-tenant disputes is to stay calm. If you get angry, you are more likely to make mistakes or do things that can be held against you later. Plus, there is a chance that your tenant will be less likely to want to deal with you directly. Instead, they may want to go to court and solve things that way. That can be a big expense.
So be willing to talk and document everything once a complaint has been made. Think about the nature of the complaint and how best to resolve things. Is there an issue between tenants? Do you and a tenant disagree on how something like a maintenance or repair issue should be handled? Know exactly what the issue is and try to see your tenant’s side of things.
Do I Need to Go to Court Over a Landlord-Tenant Dispute?
In many cases, a landlord-tenant dispute does not need to escalate to a level that requires litigation. If you and your tenant cannot come to an agreement on your own, mediation is a good option. You and your tenant can talk to each other with a third-party mediator and try to address the issue. If everyone is serious about solving the problem, this can be a great way to address a landlord-tenant dispute.
Arbitration is another option. This also requires a neutral third party, but there is one twist. You and your tenant must agree to abide by the decision reached during arbitration.
What Can You Do to Limit the Chance of Future Disagreements?
Sometimes a landlord-tenant dispute can arise simply because parts of the lease are unclear. It is a good idea to have a lawyer look over your typical lease agreements and plug any holes that could lead to disputes later on. You should also stay aware of changes in real estate and leasing laws or regulations. Staying ahead of such things can reduce the chance of a conflict and legal issue arising later. If you have a hard time keeping up on such things yourself, we know some attorneys who would be happy to keep you informed.
Talk to an Experienced Corporate Real Estate Attorney
If you are looking for ways to minimize conflict and negotiate the best possible lease agreements for everyone involved, our lawyers can help. Contact David A. Gallo & Associates LLP and schedule a consultation before you sign your next tenant up for a lease. We are ready to help you with all of your commercial real estate needs.
