Commercial Landlord Tenant Disputes

landlord-tenant law on an office table

Running a business is difficult for so many reasons, but one that doesn’t get highlighted enough is the challenge of managing the commercial property. Many entrepreneurs don’t own the establishments they are using. They use rental units instead.

Disputes may arise if an entrepreneur and a landlord disagree about certain terms of their agreement. If that happens in your case, we at the Olen Law Office can provide some assistance. Call on us if you need legal aid landlord tenant disputes so you can get out of that tough spot.

Commercial Landlord Tenant Laws in Pennsylvania

The lease agreement is the document that matters most for settling commercial landlord tenant disputes. Before you enter any agreement with a commercial landlord or leasor, take your time reviewing that lease. Better yet, consider hiring a landlord tenant lawyer Philadelphia so they can look over the document together with you.

buyers are signing a home purchase agreement from a broker

Make sure you agree to every provision in the lease agreement before you sign it. If there’s anything there that you find unfavorable, discuss it with your landlord and have it modified if possible. Don’t allow the lease agreement to potentially put you in a compromising position by failing to review it.

Business owners should know that they don’t have complete control over their rental property. Landlords can limit the alterations you can make to the property you’re renting. Remember to discuss certain alterations with your landlord before you sign your lease.

Also, commercial landlords cannot interfere with your operations as long as you are running a legitimate business. Once they sign the lease, you are given the option to conduct business on your terms.

Hammer out the details in your lease agreement properly by working with a landlord tenant attorney in Bucks County.

Commercial Disputes

Disputes between entrepreneurs and commercial landlords may arise for all kinds of reasons. In this section, we want to highlight some of the disputes.

Raising the Rent

In the state of Pennsylvania, landlords are only allowed to raise the rent once the lease agreement has expired. If your landlord approaches you about raising the rent while you still have multiple years or months on your contract, you can reach out to your lawyer to handle that matter.

Landlords are only allowed to raise rent while a lease is active if they include escalators in the agreement. They may have noted in the agreement that they can raise the rent to a specific amount by a certain case. You might have to pay extra if you signed that lease.

Evicting the Business Owners

As long as your lease is active, the commercial landlord can only evict you if there is just cause. The just cause could be your inability to pay rent or some other violation of the lease agreement.

Status of the Commercial Property

Disagreements between the tenant and commercial landlord may also arise due to the condition of the property. Tenants are expected to leave the property in the same condition as when they started using it. If the landlord claims that the commercial property has been damaged significantly, a dispute will likely arise.

Landlord Tenant Dispute Settlement

Disputes between commercial landlords and their tenants don’t always end up in court. Both sides can still talk and resolve the conflict. Remember that this is an option if you have a dispute that you want to settle without interrupting your business operations.

Working with a tenant landlord dispute lawyer is highly recommended if you want to rent a commercial property. By retaining the services of a lawyer, you can ask them to:

  • Review your lease agreement
  • Relay the specifics of your lease agreement to you
  • Manage negotiations with the commercial landlord if there is a dispute
  • Represent you in court if you wish to take legal action against your landlord
  • Prove that you followed your lease agreement without fail

Reach out to us at the Olen Law Office if you have disagreements with your commercial landlord. Keep your focus on your business as we handle the matters involving your rental property.