What Landlords Can't Do in Texas: A Humorous Guide to Your Rights
Landlords in Texas have certain rights and responsibilities. However, there are also some things that landlords are not allowed to do. If you're a tenant in Texas, it's important to know what your rights are so that you can protect yourself from any illegal actions by your landlord.
Illegal Actions by Landlords in Texas
Here are some of the things that landlords are not allowed to do in Texas:
- Discrimination: Landlords cannot discriminate against tenants based on their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status. This means that landlords cannot refuse to rent to a tenant or charge a higher rent because of any of these factors.
- Retaliation: Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants for exercising their rights. This means that landlords cannot raise the rent, evict a tenant, or take other actions against a tenant because the tenant complained about the condition of the property or filed a complaint with the landlord.
- Unlawful Entry: Landlords cannot enter a tenant's unit without the tenant's permission, except in certain limited circumstances, such as to make repairs or to show the unit to prospective tenants.
- Unlawful Eviction: Landlords cannot evict a tenant without following the proper legal procedures. This means that landlords must give tenants proper notice of eviction and must file a lawsuit with the court if they want to evict a tenant.
- Unlawful Rent Increases: Landlords cannot raise the rent without giving tenants proper notice. The amount of notice required depends on the length of the lease.
- Unlawful Security Deposits: Landlords cannot charge excessive security deposits or refuse to return the security deposit to the tenant at the end of the lease.
- Failure to Maintain the Property: Landlords are responsible for maintaining the property in a safe and habitable condition. This means that landlords must make repairs to the property as needed and must ensure that the property is free from pests.
Additional Tips for Tenants
In addition to knowing your rights, it's also important to be a good tenant. This means paying your rent on time, keeping the property clean, and not causing damage to the property. By being a good tenant, you can help to ensure that your landlord treats you fairly.
FAQs
- How to File a Complaint Against Your Landlord: If you believe that your landlord has violated your rights, you can file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Office.
- How to Find a Lawyer to Help You with a Landlord-Tenant Dispute: If you need legal help with a landlord-tenant dispute, you can contact the Texas Legal Services Center.
- How to Protect Yourself from Unlawful Eviction: If you are facing an eviction, it's important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you to understand your rights and to protect yourself from an unlawful eviction.
- How to Negotiate a Rent Increase: If your landlord wants to raise your rent, you can try to negotiate a lower increase. Be prepared to provide reasons why you believe that the proposed increase is unfair.
- How to Get Your Security Deposit Back: If your landlord is refusing to return your security deposit, you can file a lawsuit with the court. Be sure to document any damage to the property that you caused so that you can offset the cost of any repairs from your security deposit.
Conclusion
Landlords in Texas are not allowed to do certain things. If you believe that your landlord has violated your rights, you should take action to protect yourself. By knowing your rights and taking action when necessary, you can help to ensure that you are treated fairly by your landlord.
I hope this blog post has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Please note that this blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have a legal question, you should consult with an attorney.