Residential & Commercial Lease Attorney in Union City, New Jersey

In New Jersey, the creation of lease agreements is often between two parties – the property owner and the renter – to outline the terms and conditions on which the renter agrees to lease the property. The lease agreement guarantees that the tenant or renter will make use of the property and, in exchange, make regular payments to the property owner for a specific period. If you want to obtain a commercial lease, residential lease, or lease a property, you must speak with an experienced New Jersey real estate attorney for proper guidance.

At Hudson Law Firm, we have the knowledge and resources to advise and guide clients in the legal matters of real estate, including lease agreements. As your legal counsel, we can help review and negotiate residential and commercial lease agreements to ensure your best interests are well protected. Even if you're involved in a lease dispute, our trusted attorney can intervene quickly and help resolve such disputes amicably.

Hudson Law Firm proudly serves clients throughout Union City, New Jersey, and the surrounding areas of Hoboken, Bayonne, Jersey City, and North Bergen.

New Jersey Commercial Leases

A New Jersey commercial lease agreement is a contract that permits a landlord or property owner to lease a property (commercial space) to another person or entity for a business purpose. The legal document will outline the terms and conditions of renting the property to the business tenant. Most commercial leases often contain the following basic information:

• The length of the lease

• The start date of the lease term

• The measurements and specifications of the commercial space you are renting

• The renewal options of the business tenant

• Additional costs included in the rent such as maintenance fees, insurance, utilities, taxes, or common area charges

• The amount of security deposit

• Whether you can modify the rental space

• Who will be responsible for maintenance and repairs

• Whether you can sublease the commercial space to another tenant

• How disputes will be resolved

• The penalties for breaking the lease

Furthermore, the commercial lease agreement must be clear, and both parties must understand the terms. An experienced attorney can help draft, review, or negotiate the terms of the lease and ensure that it is fair to all parties involved.

Types of Leases

The different types of commercial leases include:

• Single net lease

• Double net lease

• Triple net lease

• Full-service or gross lease

• Bondable net lease

• Percentage lease

• Gross lease

• Modified Gross Lease

Commercial Tenant & Landlord Rights

New Jersey law provides commercial tenants with certain rights. Here are some of them:

Grounds for Eviction: A commercial landlord may evict a business tenant from their property in New Jersey, based on the following grounds:

• Violation of the lease terms

• Willful destruction of the property

• Failure to pay rent

• Holdover after the expiration of the lease term

Maintenance and Repair: The commercial tenant must keep the property neat and in a reasonably safe condition. The lease agreement will state who is responsible for making repairs and routine maintenance.

Remedies: A commercial tenant may pursue damages against a commercial landlord who defaults on its contractual obligations.

Common Commercial Lease Disputes

Some common causes of commercial lease disputes include:

• Rent issues

• Maintenance issues

• Unfair lease terms

• Renewal terms

• Escalator clauses

• Permitted uses

• Eviction

• Lease termination

• Interest and taxes

• Renting to another business competitor

An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and obligations and explore your available legal options to resolve commercial lease disputes.

Possible Remedies

Some possible remedies to commercial lease disputes include:

Settlement Meeting: A settlement meeting may be scheduled between the property owner and the business tenant to discuss and settle the issues.

Arbitration: This requires all parties involved in the lease dispute to submit evidence and testimony to one or more arbiters. The arbiters will review evidence and testimonies then decide the best possible resolution for the dispute.

Mediation: Mediation requires all parties involved in the lease dispute to come together, identify the issues, and discuss a feasible compromise with the guidance of a mediator. A neutral third-party (mediation attorney or mediator) will help negotiate or facilitate a possible resolution.

Private Judge or Litigation: However, the parties involved cannot settle the disputes during the settlement meeting, mediation, or arbitration; they may turn to the New Jersey court – litigation. A private judge or jury will help settle the lease disputes through the court system.

An experienced attorney can evaluate the surrounding facts of your case and determine whether to resolve the issues through a settlement meeting, mediation, arbitration, or litigation.

Residential Leases in New Jersey

A residential lease agreement or rental agreement is a legal contract between a landlord and a tenant that allows the tenant to rent or lease the residential property. The residential lease agreement will outline the terms and conditions of the tenancy and; the rights and obligations of the landlord and tenant. When drafting a residential lease, working with a knowledgeable attorney is crucial to ensure that the terms are carefully worded.

Tenant Rights & Landlord Rights in New Jersey

Here are some important laws that tenants and landlords in New Jersey must know.

• The residential rental agreement must indicate the amount of rent, due date, mode of rent payment, and consequences of late payment.

• Landlords can charge the equivalent of one and one-half month's rent for the security deposit.

• Landlords must disclose specific information to tenants in the lease or rental agreement, including information about flood zones, as well as the rights and responsibilities of both the tenants and landlords.

• The tenant may file a lawsuit against the landlord in small claims court for the deposit return. The maximum amount of financial compensation that may be recovered is $5,000.

• Tenants may withhold rent or exercise the right to "repair and deduct" if the landlord fails to make important repairs promptly.

A knowledgeable attorney can help you understand your rights and obligations as a landlord or tenant in New Jersey and determine what to do when disputes arise.

Common Disputes

Some of the most common landlord-tenant disputes include:

• Nonpayment of rent

• Tenants breaching the lease agreement

• Property maintenance

• Safety disclosures

• Security deposits – disputes about what is considered as "damage."

• Property damages

• Interest and taxes

• Violation of community codes

• Habitability issues

• Withholding pet deposit

Equivalent to commercial lease disputes, settlement meetings, mediation, arbitration, and litigation are the available options to resolve residential lease disputes.

Work With an Experienced Real Estate Law Attorney

Leases are a crucial and intricate part of residential and commercial real estate businesses. However, due to the complexities involved in lease agreements, people usually take advantage of the other party who doesn't understand what they have agreed to.

At Hudson Law Firm, our attorney has devoted their career to offering outstanding legal services and reliable advocacy to clients in real estate and lease agreement matters. As your legal counsel, we can walk you through any residential and commercial lease, help review and negotiate the lease agreement, and help prevent unfair terms. Also, we can offer you the reliable representation you need in your lease dispute litigation and help pursue the best available outcome for your case.