Texas Tenant Laws for Dummies

I've rented for a good portion of my life and I'm always surprised to see what rights are afforded to me from the State of Texas.

For instance, did you know that you have a lawful right to demand that your landlord makes repairs on the property if it affects your health? How about the fact that you have the right to "quiet enjoyment" under Texas law and you cannot be evicted or disturbed without a legal reason from your landlord?

Let me explain.

Fair Housing in Texas

All landlords in Texas must adhere to your standard anti-discriminatory framework when leasing property on the basis of...

• Race or ethnicity
• Religion
• Family relation or age
• Disability or sex

But, did you also know that landlords are not required by law to give their tenants a grace period with rent payments? According to nolo.com, they are allowed to charge late fees following at least two days after the due date, but they are not required.

Also, landlords can only raise your rent if it's explicitly stated within your lease that they can do so, otherwise they aren't allowed to just charge you more or less at random times throughout your term.

Tenant Rights in Texas

If you give a notice to your landlord that there is a problem with the property that affects your health and they fail to repair it, you are eligible to sue them or deduct the cost from your rent if you pay for the repair yourself.

The Texas Attorney General website provides methods through which tenants can file suits against their landlords when they fail to repair the property.

Tenants are also exempt from normal wear and tear charges within the property. So, just because your carpet may get nasty over time or the lock on the front door stops working, your landlord cannot charge you for repairs.

Lastly, the only security measures that landlords must provide under Texas law are locks on doors and windows, lights in common areas, and all pools must be surrounded by a fence with a latch, according to The People's Lawyer.

So, hopefully you learned something about renting in Texas. And hey, just remember that you still have rights even if your signature is on a legally binding lease.