- Landlord & Tenant Law
- Illinois
Being a landlord or rental property manager involves a broad spectrum of responsibilities beyond collecting rent and maintaining properties. Legal issues can arise including tenant disputes, lease compliance, and vendor contract review. That’s where a monthly retainer program for legal services can keep landlord operations smooth and expenses predictable.
A monthly retainer is a subscription-style arrangement with a law firm. The program allows a landlord to pay a flat monthly fee for certain legal opinions, communications, and document drafting, without the worry of hourly billing rates and large invoices for unexpected projects. The predictability and consistency of a monthly retainer helps landlords manage budgets, decrease legal exposure when difficult issues arise, and gives freedom to seek advice anytime without the concern of being “on the clock” at an hourly billing rate.
Key Landlord Retainer Benefits: Budgeting, Risk Reduction & Operational Predictability
Early landlord legal guidance can avert costly litigation. For example, missteps in fair housing, lease drafting, or dealing with local rental laws can lead to extensive tenant disputes. These disputes can be costly, lengthy and complex. Proactively obtaining professional and experienced legal assistance can help landlords resolve disputes efficiently and maintain full compliance with housing laws.
Rental laws (ex. eviction, disclosures, safety codes) vary by state and even city. Keeping up with legal updates and having an attorney review your lease and vendor contracts can reduce risk. It can also build a working relationship, leading to tailored legal advice based on a landlord’s unique rental portfolio, property location, property type, and tenant amenities.
Under an hourly billing model, landlords often avoid proactively reaching out to counsel when faced with a legal question in an attempt to avoid large invoices for what may seem like a small question. With a monthly retainer, landlords pay a flat fee for communications and legal opinions. That fee remains consistent month-to-month despite the volume of legal work, leaving a landlord free to work through small questions with counsel before they become large legal battles.
How KSN’s Landlord/Tenant Retainer Program Works
Here’s a summary of our law firm’s landlord/tenant retainer structure:
- Flat monthly fee: Instead of paying hourly whenever you call or email an attorney with legal work, you pay a predictable monthly amount.
- Scope of service: The Enhanced Retainer plan provides peace of mind, accessibility, and consistency by covering all day-to-day, non-eviction/litigation legal needs, including:
- Violation and Cease & Desist letters
- Review and response to tenant and tenant attorney disputes, including Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) and fair housing/discrimination issues (pre-litigation)
- Lease Review and guidance in compliance with State Law and Local Ordinances
- Early termination and settlement agreements (where no litigation is on file)
- Vendor contract review and preparation of contract riders
Legal Resource
A retainer program can be a powerful tool for landlords and rental property managers who want to make legal support predictable, affordable, and part of their regular operations. Build legal protection and advice into your monthly expenses rather than being forced to react to unplanned expenses, time delays, and legal concerns as they arise.
Contact our law firm if you have questions about a legal retainer or other landlord/tenant legal questions. You can reach KSN by calling 855-537-0500 or visiting our website at www.ksnlaw.com.
Since 1983, KSN has been a legal resource for condominium, homeowner, and townhome associations. Additionally, we represent clients in real estate transactions, collections, landlord/tenant issues, and property tax appeals. We represent thousands of clients and community associations throughout the US with offices in several states including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
