When Disputes Arise Between Commercial Landlords and Tenants in Los Angeles
Disputes between landlords and commercial tenants are an increasing area of litigation in Los Angeles and Southern California. At the law offices of Mathew & George, our lawyers frequently represent business clients in the following types of cases:
- Issues related to options that are given to the tenant to extend the commercial lease term
- Disputes related to the storage of materials — specifically whether materials are hazardous or not
- Disputes over common area maintenance (CAM) fees
- Disputes related to percentage rent. Many commercial leases will have fixed rent, plus a provision for percentage based on revenue of business.
- In multi-tenant properties such as shopping centers, issues relating to leasing space to a competing business
- Damage claims, including damage due to fire
- Claims that a landlord has tried to put the tenant into default to get a better tenant in place
While we primarily represent commercial tenants, our attorneys also represent landlords whose tenants are nonperforming.
Leases and Oral Agreements
In California, leases have to be in writing to be enforceable. However, there is an exception to the writing requirement when the tenant can claim "detrimental reliance" on the oral contract.
Our lawyers represented an immigrant who was accustomed to doing business on a handshake. In this case, our client relied on a handshake promise that his landlord would extend his lease for 10 years. Based on that promise, our client spent $150,000 in improvements to the property. When the landlord later tried to break that promise saying that lease options had to be in writing, our lawyers were able to enforce the oral agreement based on detrimental reliance.
Learn more about our firm and the cost of litigation.
Free Attorney Consultation
Don't give us your trust now. Let us earn it. To talk to a lawyer at our firm about a lease dispute, call (310) 478-4349 or fill out the contact form on this site.
