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Housing & Consumer Protection

Free Legal Help from A Consumer Fraud or Eviction Lawyer

Housing insecurity and lack of affordable housing in Washoe County is a long-standing issue that has been exacerbated by COVID-19 and recent unprecedented housing price increases. During the past few years, we have handled thousands of cases involving housing issues including foreclosures, mobile home sales, public housing and private landlord/tenant issues.

These are only a small example of the range of the housing and consumer protection issues issues that Northern Nevada Legal Aid has assisted with for the residents of northern Nevada.

HOW TO GET A CONSUMER PROTECTION OR EVICTION LAWYER IN WASHOE COUNTY

Our eviction lawyers and consumer protection attorneys are fully aware of the difficult landscape residents of Reno, and the surrounding areas face. We have the experience, knowledge, and dedication to help.

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Who Our Consumer Protection and Eviction Lawyers Help

We are here to help lower-income residents who are facing a housing or consumer protection legal issue. Typically these issues fall under the categories of Housing Insecurity & Protection, or Consumer Protection. Both of these areas of the law are diverse, and residents require strong, affordable legal representation to navigate issues successfully.

Housing Insecurity & Protection typically covers the following issues:

  • Eviction notices
  • Understanding the eviction process in Washoe County, NV
  • Understanding how to seal an eviction in Nevada
  • Housing discrimination
  • Wrongful lockouts
  • Uninhabitable or unsanitary living conditions
  • Termination of utilities

Our Consumer Protection team can assist with the following types of legal problems:

  • Consumer fraud
  • Deceptive Trade Practices
  • Unfair debt collection practices
  • Collection letters

The issues that can impact Housing & Consumer Protection in northern Nevada are numerous and may not be indicated in the lists above. If you do not see your legal issue listed, you may still be able to find information and self help resources you need to represent yourself at Northern Nevada Legal Aid. Contact our consumer, eviction, and housing discrimination team to learn more.

Do You Know your Tenant Rights?

If you’re a renter struggling with an eviction, a landlord who won’t take care of repairs or utility shutoffs, Northern Nevada Legal Aid can help you understand how Nevada Tenants Rights apply.

Housing And Consumer Protection Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you are facing an impending Northern County eviction or dealing with consumer protection issues, you probably have many questions. Answering those questions is a big part of what we do. Below, you’ll find the answers to some of the most common housing and consumer protection questions we receive.

Often, rent eviction notices will instruct tenants that they have a certain number of “judicial days” to respond. A judicial day is a fancy way of saying a day that the court is open. Suppose you receive a non-payment (or other eviction) notice on a Thursday that says you have five judicial days to respond. In that case, you have until the end of the day the following Thursday to respond because Saturdays and Sundays are not considered judicial days.

Rent non-payment notices (or other notices) that threaten eviction will tell recipients that they have a certain number of days to file a “tenant’s affidavit.” This legal form states why you oppose the impending eviction. The form must be filled out by the tenant and filed with a court. If you do not respond to the notice, you may still be evicted by default. 

Some landlords in Nevada will try to evict tenants based on missed utility payments. This practice is not allowed under Nevada law in most cases—despite what your rental contract may say. Your eviction lawyer can help you understand whether an eviction based on utility payments is allowable under the law.

Attorneys at Northern Nevada Legal Aid primarily represent tenants in eviction cases. Landlords may, in some cases, find legal information and resources through our self help center at Northern Nevada Legal Aid. 

Debt collection letters for a medical, credit card or other debts can come out of the blue and shake up recipients’ lives. The attorneys at Northern Nevada Legal Aid can advise you on the next steps if you have received a collection letter. And if you are the victim of unfair debt collection practices, we can help with that, too.

Our experienced legal team is happy to discuss bankruptcy as an option and advise you on how the process might work, but we cannot file the bankruptcy documents on your behalf.

Call our team. We can help you understand how to take legal action for defective products in some cases. In other, more serious cases, we may take action on your behalf.

To schedule a consultation with our housing and consumer protection team, give us a call at (775) 329-2727, email us at intakeuser@washoelegalservices.org, or contact us online.

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