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Renters & Tenant Rights

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Topics covered in this section include:  information on Frequently Asked Questions, Getting your landlord to fix your air conditioning, landlord-tenant statutes, law of evictions, low-income housing qualifications, Online Legal Advice, tenant discussion forums, 10 tips Tenants Need to Know,

     This information is not legal advice. If you have a question about your legal rights in any situation, it is recommended that you contact an attorney for a professional opinion. We are not attorneys.
     We do not give legal advice. This site contains general information about Texas tenant statutes.
     While efforts have been taken to ensure the reliability of this site, please note that these are not legal documents, nor do they constitute legal advice. Unique facts can render the general statements made on this site inapplicable to your situation.
     The law changes. We attempt to provide current information; nonetheless, you are urged to consult an attorney. You can get in a lot of trouble and lose a lot of money trying to represent yourself in legal matters. If you need legal assistance, we strongly urge you to consult an attorney.

Texas Tenant Advisor  - information on Frequently Asked Questions commonly asked by renters about their rights and responsibilities in Texas, Getting your landlord to fix your air conditioning, Detailed information concerning landlord-tenant statutes in Texas, A technical manual on the law of evictions in Texas, How to qualify for low-income housing. 

Legal resource room   - Do you need legal advice about your renters rights? Get online legal advice from a licensed attorney specializing in landlord - tenant law. For more information visit legalresourceroom.com 

 The tenant resource directory - includes Texas Low Income Housing Information Service, Texas Tenants Union, Dallas Tenants Association, Austin Tenants' Council, Legal Aid of Central Texas, Attorney General of Texas - Office of Consumer Protection information.

Housing and Tenant Discussion Forums  - discussion forums on Texas housing and tenant issues.

Ten Tips Every Tenant Needs to Know

1. The best way to win over a prospective landlord is to be prepared. Bringing the following information when you meet prospective landlords will give you a competitive edge over other applicants: a completed rental application; written references from landlords and employers; friends and colleagues, and a current copy of your credit report.

2. Carefully review all the important conditions of the tenancy before you sign on the dotted line. Your lease or rental agreement may contain a provision that you find unacceptable-- for example, restrictions on guests or pets, design alterations or running a home business.

3. To avoid disputes or misunderstandings with your landlord, get it in writing. Keep copies of any correspondence and follow up an oral agreement with a letter, setting out your understanding. For example, if you ask your landlord to make repairs, put your request in writing and keep a copy for yourself. If he agrees orally, send a letter confirming this fact.

4. Protect your privacy rights. Next to disputes over rent or security deposits, one of the most common and emotion-filled misunderstandings arises over a landlord's right to enter a rental unit and a tenant's right to be left alone, If you understand your privacy rights, for example, the amount of notice your landlord must provide before entering-- it will be easier to protect them.


5. Know your rights to live in a habitable rental unit-- and don't give them up. Landlords are required to offer their tenants livable premises including adequate weatherproofing; heat, water and electricity; and clean, sanitary and structurally safe premises. If your rental unit is not kept in good repair, you have a number of options ranging from withholding a portion of the rent to pay for repairs to calling the building inspector (who can usually order the landlord to make repairs) to moving out without liability for your future rent.

6. Keep communication open with your landlord. If there's a problem-- for example, if the landlord is slow to make repairs-- talk with the landlord to see if the issue can be resolved short of a nasty legal battle.

7. Purchase renters' insurance to cover your valuables. Your landlord's insurance policy will not cover your losses. Renters' insurance typically costs $350 a year for a $50,000 policy that covers loss due to theft or damage caused by other people or natural disasters. 

8. Make sure the security deposit refund procedures are spelled out in your lease or rental agreement. To protect yourself and avoid any misunderstandings, make sure your lease or rental agreement is clear on the use and refund of security deposits, including allowable deductions.

9. Learn whether your building and neighborhood are safe, and what you can expect your landlord to do about it if they aren't. Get copies of any state or local laws that require safety devices such as deadbolts and window locks, check out the property's vulnerability to intrusion by a criminal, and learn whether criminal incidents have already occurred. If a crime is highly likely, your landlord may be obligated to take some steps to protect you.

10. Know when to fight an eviction notice-- and when to move. Unless you have the law and provable facts on your side, fighting an eviction notice is usually shortsighted. If you lose an eviction lawsuit, you may end up hundreds (even thousands) of dollars in debt and face a negative credit rating.

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