Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Norman

Find the right Tenant attorney in Norman, OK

Tenant Law in Oklahoma

In Norman, Oklahoma, relationships between tenants and landlords can occasionally become strained.

Landlords and tenants have several rights and responsibilities. What follows is a partial list of the rights that landlords and tenants have, and the corresponding duties of the other party.

Landlord's Rights in Norman, OK

The most important and most apparent right that a landlord has is the right to timely payment of rent from the tenant. This, of course, means that the tenant has a duty to pay rent.

Furthermore, landlords can bill the tenant for any damage they cause to the unit, whether it was intentional or negligent. The costs of repairs for such damage can be deducted from a tenant's security deposit, but it should be noted that tenants aren't liable for ordinary wear and tear, over which they have little control.

Tenant's Rights in Norman, OK

Tenants, most essentially, have a right to a habitable apartment. After all, this is what they're paying for. Norman, Oklahoma landlords are obligated to see that the units they rent to tenants are fit to be lived in by people. Many different defects might render an apartment uninhabitable, such as serious infestations and other problems with sanitation, lack of running water or electricity, or failure to provide adequate protection from the outside elements.

Furthermore, tenants are entitled to common areas which are reasonably safe and clean, and free of physical obstacles. Areas such as lobbies, hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes must comply with the building codes of Norman, Oklahoma. Furthermore, any other unreasonable safety hazard, even if it doesn't violate a specific provision of a building code, can create liability for the landlord if it injures a tenant.

Under federal and Oklahoma law, tenants are also entitled to protection against discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, marital status, or gender. Such discrimination can lead to grave civil penalties against the landlord. Landlords also cannot discriminate against tenants based on physical disability, and have to make reasonable accommodations for physically disabled tenants. For instance, they have to allow disabled tenants to make minor physical alterations to the unit (at the tenant's expense) to make it more accessible. Now, they don't need to allow the tenants to have the building remodeled. We're just talking about things like installing handrails in the bathroom, and similar things. The landlord can, however, require tenants to restore the apartment to its original condition, at the tenant's expense, once the tenant leaves.

Tenants are also legally safeguarded from unfair eviction. Before a lease agreement expires, landlords cannot evict tenants unless they breach as significant term of the agreement by not paying rent, causing serious damage to the property, engaging in activities that are a nuisance to the other tenants, or engaging in illegal activity on the property, among other things.

Can a Norman, Oklahoma Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, chances are that you want to prevent conflict. But if you do end up in a seemingly irresolvable conflict with the other party, a Norman, Oklahoma attorney can help you protect your rights.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Norman

Norman, Oklahoma is a major city in Cleveland County. It is the county seat and the center of the county's employment and business development. It is located about 20 miles away from Oklahoma City and has a population of about 111,000 people. Norman's economy is driven primarily the research industry and higher education. The University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and has about 30,000 students enrolled.

Home of the Sooners, the University of Oklahoma is a central point of Norman culture and society. The University employs many Norman residents and contributes much to the research and development industry in the area. Many city events, festivities and sporting events are held at the University of Oklahoma. The largest weekend festival in the state of Oklahoma is the Medieval Fair, which draws crowds of well over 300,000 people. Other popular events include music gatherings such as Groovefest and Jazz in June

In addition to the University of Oklahoma, many other major employers are located in Norman, Oklahoma. These include Sysco Corporation and ATT. Scientific research is also popular in Norman. Examples of scientific ventures in Norman include the Oklahoma Geological Survey and the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council.

Norman, Oklahoma is a great contributor to the progress of Oklahoma state. Norman lawyers provide a diverse range of legal services and are members of civic and community service organizations. Lawyers in Norman, Oklahoma often assist their clients at the Municipal Court of Norman, located in the city.

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