At the Washington Law Partners, we understand that for most people their home is the most important asset they have. Whether you rent or you own a parcel of real estate there are many complex legal considerations that can apply to any given situation. As a top real estate lawyer in Washington DC, we routinely represent homeowners, potential residential house purchasers, commercial builders, real estate developers, home improvement contractors investors, lenders and tenants in a broad range of residential and commercial real estate matters.
Harold Ognelodh has more than two decades of experience specializing in the District of Columbia court system. Mr. Ognelodh will work directly with your case and offers a practical approach to these matters to ensure that our clients’ rights are protected and that our clients receive the best legal representation. At the same time, Mr. Ognelodh is an experienced litigator with the knowledge and style necessary to handle the tough cases.
Many times, the most basic, initial research in Real Estate cases including tax lien cases requires research at two different websites which are:
1) The District Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (DC OTR) operates the District of Columbia website tracking all property information in the jurisdiction. In particular, District of Columbia zoning information, tax information including assessment value and other important data are located in this searchable system.
2) The District of Columbia Office of the Recorder of Deeds (DC ROD) contains all recorded instruments as to parcels of real property in this jurisdiction. Most of the data can be obtained via a web link after creating a password account in a very simple process.
The following are a few of the key areas of our real estate practice:
Buying and Selling a Home
- Drafting of Documents for the Purchase and Sale of Residential Real Estate
- Review of Documents for the Purchase and Sale of Residential Real Estate
- Review of Loan Documents and Settlement Documents
- Zoning Issues
- Disputes Involving DC Survey Map Boundary Lines
- Drafting & Review of Residential Leases
- Nuisance whether public or private
- Trespass and Noise Complaints
- Review of Contractor Agreements and Residential Construction Contracts
- Disputes with Unlicensed home improvement contractors under the DC Consumer Protection Act
- Washington DC Title Search
Landlord-Tenant Disputes
Harold Ognelodh has over 20 years of experience as a real estate lawyer representing residential landlords and tenants in conflicts which arise in the DC Superior Court. This firm will attempt to effectively steer disputes toward a settlement, but this involves being ready to litigate and effectively advocate for the client when litigation becomes necessary.
We routinely represent landlords and tenants in matters involving:
- Non-payment of rent
- Back-rent
- Retaliatory eviction
- Tenant Petitions
- Rent Control
- Rental Registration with DCRA
- Tenant Opportunity To Purchase Act (TOPA)
- Condemnation and sales of properties that are occupied by tenants
Real Estate Property Disputes- Construction Litigation
The time following closing should be a time of realizing a positive future with happiness and the security of a nest egg. Unfortunately, for some it is a time of fear and dislocation and the haunting prospect of a dim troubled future. The discovery of construction defects or collateral damage, environmental hazards, and other issues with the property, potentially involving a cover-up or some type of concealment by the former owner, can transform what should be a lifelong positive experience into a disaster.
Harold Ognelodh is highly experienced in representing first-time homebuyers and other real estate clients when problems arise.
We routinely represent clients in litigation cases involving:
- Breach of Contract
- Fraud, Misrepresentation
- Construction Defects
- Latent Defects
- Warranty Claims
- Environmental Claims
- Builder Liability
- Disputes over land rights and air rights
The firm is highly experienced in representing residential real estate clients in breach of contract, boundary dispute, easement, eminent domain, and partition suits. We also represent homeowners who have been the victim of unlicensed contractors in the District of Columbia.
Washington, DC laws require that a home improvement contractor without a license:
- Cannot take any advance payments prior to the completion of the entire home improvement job;
- And if said contractor takes advance payments prior to the total completion of the job, then they must return all of such payments to the DC homeowner without regard to offset for value wrought into the property by the work;
- And said contractor is subject to treble damages if their actions can be characterized as having malice or ill-will requiring their actions to be deterred.
As a prominent real estate lawyer in Washington DC, we can help you navigate any real estate legal hurdle you may face. We offer a FREE consultation from our office in downtown Washington DC, near Gallery Place Chinatown. We accept all major credit cards, and payment plans are available for established clients.