As a business owner in Los Angeles, managing commercial properties often comes with unique challenges. Disputes between landlords and tenants can arise over lease agreements, maintenance responsibilities, or property use, just to name a few. Navigating these disputes without legal expertise can result in costly, time-consuming battles that could significantly impact your business.
Partnering with an experienced law firm, well-versed in the unique needs of businesses can provide the clarity and guidance necessary to handle these complex situations effectively.
Here are just a few ways an attorney can assist with commercial landlord-tenant disputes.
Understanding the Complexities of Commercial Disputes
Commercial landlord-tenant disputes often revolve around layered issues like:
- Lease Agreement Conflicts: Interpretation of clauses related to rent increases, property modifications, or lease renewal terms.
- Maintenance and Repair Obligations: Disagreements over who is responsible for repairs, upgrades, or compliance with building codes.
- Regulatory and Zoning Issues: Ensuring compliance with Los Angeles-specific regulations, including zoning laws, environmental standards, and permit requirements.
The stakes in commercial disputes are high, given the substantial financial investments and long-term nature of commercial leases. Navigating these disputes requires an experienced legal partner like Hamlin | Cody, who understands the complex interplay between lease terms, property law, and local regulations.
Why Legal Representation is Essential
Many commercial leases use form leases prepared by a brokerage firm. By their nature, form leases cover a wide variety of issues. Unfortunately, as people revise these leases to reflect their individually negotiated terms, they may create ambiguities or conflicts with other parts of the form lease.
There are two California Supreme Court Cases that reflect this problem. In both cases, new regulations required retrofitting commercial spaces to new standards. Both tenancies used the same form of lease, which was published by a reputable organization and widely used. The two leases contained identical language on repairs and maintenance.
One would expect the court to make the same ruling in both cases. It did not. In one case, it was found that the lessor was responsible for retrofitting. In the second case, the court found that the tenant was responsible for retrofitting. Again, these were identical leases with the same language and decided by the same court.
Seeking legal counsel early in negotiations can help to prevent this kind of problem. Experienced real estate counsel can help to create leases that are clear and unambiguous. It can help prevent small issues from escalating into costly, long-term problems.
Imagine a scenario where the parties to a commercial or industrial lease disagree about who is responsible for certain repairs or the amount of rent due. Without legal guidance, the parties to the lease might discover later that they had unintentionally set a costly precedent for future obligations. The parties might become so invested in their personal viewpoints that it leads to litigation instead of a relationship-preserving agreement.
At Hamlin | Cody, we provide clients with a thorough review of their lease agreements and property-related documents. By breaking down complex legal terms and outlining options, we empower clients to make informed decisions—whether to negotiate, mediate, or litigate. If litigation cannot be avoided, we provide a clear-eyed view of the case and persuasive advocacy of our clients’ interests.
Taking the Proactive Approach
Commercial landlord-tenant disputes often benefit from proactive risk management and communication. Working with an attorney who encourages transparency and thoroughness can lead to better outcomes. At Hamlin | Cody, clients are advised to provide complete and accurate information, which allows attorneys to build stronger cases and identify the best course of action.
Conclusion: Protecting Your Business Interests
At Hamlin | Cody, the emphasis on clarity, proactive risk management, and long-term relationships provides clients with peace of mind and strategic advantage. Contact us today to discuss how we can support your business through complex legal challenges and help achieve your goals.