{"id":10806,"date":"2018-02-20T19:40:17","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T01:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/?page_id=1147"},"modified":"2023-05-23T03:00:41","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T03:00:41","slug":"stephenville-landlord-lawyer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/stephenville-landlord-lawyer\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephenville Landlord Lawyer"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Stephenville-landlord-lawyer.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1148\" src=\"http:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Stephenville-landlord-lawyer-300x195.jpg\" alt=\"Stephenville\u00a0landlord lawyer\" width=\"300\" height=\"195\" \/><\/a>Investment in property can be beneficial\u00a0and rewarding. However, being a landlord also comes with challenges. Therefore, it is imperative that investors protect their interests by retaining a\u00a0Stephenville\u00a0landlord lawyer.<\/p>\n<h2>A Well Written Lease Agreement Is Important<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"\/rock-solid-lease\/\">Lease agreements<\/a> are the fundamental legal understanding between a landlord and tenant. A lease agreement is\u00a0imperative to ensure your <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/landlord-rights\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"landlord rights\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">landlord rights<\/a>. Texas law allows either verbal or written lease agreement. However, only a written lease will truly\u00a0protect your interests. Oral contracts can easily be misconstrued\u00a0or misinterpreted. A written lease expressly outlines the terms and conditions that are expected between the parties. Signatures by both tenant and landlord make it a legally binding contract, which can be enforced.<\/p>\n<p>An experienced\u00a0Stephenville\u00a0landlord lawyer can assist in drafting a landlord-friendly lease agreement. A lease needs to adhere to both Texas and federal\u00a0law. A lease might contain:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Rent amount and terms<\/li>\n<li>Parties&#8217; identities\u00a0and\u00a0contract information<\/li>\n<li>Lease term<\/li>\n<li>Security deposit amount and terms<\/li>\n<li>Pet deposit<\/li>\n<li>Remedies for contract breach<\/li>\n<li>Hold over\/eviction terms<\/li>\n<li>Rights and responsibilities\u00a0of each party<\/li>\n<li>Termination provisions<\/li>\n<li>Assignment and subletting<\/li>\n<li>Property and facility maintenance<\/li>\n<li>Special circumstances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Landlord Entry on Premises<\/h2>\n<p>Once a tenant takes possession of the leased premises, your right as a landlord to enter the leased property is very limited. The law is meant to protect the tenant and give them a right to privacy. Your\u00a0Stephenville\u00a0landlord lawyer can help ensure your lease agreement covers the law. Your landlord lawyer can further make sure the lease allows you to enter the property when it is lawful to do so. Texas courts have not specified a certain amount of notice time landlords must give a tenant, but 24 hours is a good default. The lease might specify the following reasons for entry:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Necessary or requested\u00a0repairs<\/li>\n<li>Perspective tenant to see property<\/li>\n<li>Emergency that necessitates\u00a0inside access<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Entering a leased premises\u00a0without notice or for other reasons than provided in the lease agreement is not a good idea. Tenants have rights, including damages and possible release from the lease.<\/p>\n<h2>Security Deposit<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Under Texas law, a landlord can determine the specific amount needed for a security deposit and where it is held. However, a landlord must return any security deposit\u00a0within 30 days after a tenant leaves the property. It is permissible\u00a0to deduct the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sums of unpaid rent<\/li>\n<li>Repairs costs or damage beyond normal wear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are deducting for repair costs make sure to keep records (i.e. pictures and receipts). If you fail to return the security deposit in bad faith the\u00a0tenant\u00a0can sue you. Damages can be up to three times the security deposit, as well as court costs and attorney fees. A\u00a0Stephenville\u00a0landlord lawyer can defend you against a bad faith tenant\u00a0claim.<\/p>\n<h2>Damages and Repairs<\/h2>\n<p>Depending on the circumstances and the terms of the lease, both landlords and tenants may be responsible for repairs and damages. In general, a tenant asks for repairs and the landlord makes the repairs. If the landlord fails to do so, the tenant can do the repairs and then deduct the repair cost from rent. Disputes can arise and lead to litigation. Your\u00a0Stephenville\u00a0landlord lawyer can assist in arguing that the tenant caused damages.<\/p>\n<h2>Tenant Eviction<\/h2>\n<p>In certain circumstances, a landlord has the right to <a href=\"\/eviction-landlord-representation\/\">evict a tenant<\/a> for breach of the lease, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Failing to pay rent<\/li>\n<li>Breach of other lease terms (e.g. illegal activities)<\/li>\n<li>Public indecency<\/li>\n<li>Holdover<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Notice to Vacate<\/h2>\n<p>Before filing an eviction action in court, you, the landlord, must properly serve tenant(s) with a <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/never-hand-deliver-notice-vacate\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"Notice to Vacate\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">Notice to Vacate<\/a>. The notice must include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Service date<\/li>\n<li>Tenant(s) names and addresses<\/li>\n<li>Reason for eviction notice<\/li>\n<li>Date of when tenant must move out and\/or amount of rent arrears<\/li>\n<li>Explanation regarding\u00a0how the landlord may pursue a lawsuit to evict the tenant from the premises<\/li>\n<li>Description of how notice was served<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In cases were the eviction notice is due to unpaid rent, under Texas law, you must give a minimum of three days&#8217; notice before you file the eviction\u00a0in court (unless the lease states 24 hours is sufficient).<\/p>\n<p>Working with an experienced\u00a0Stephenville\u00a0landlord lawyer for a tenant eviction will ensure the notice is adequate and properly served. Furthermore, when a landlord works with a law firm it lends credence to the landlord&#8217;s seriousness to act in moving forward with actual eviction.<\/p>\n<h2>Court Representation<\/h2>\n<p>There are various\u00a0reasons a landlord might end up in court, or trial. One of the most common is eviction. A landlord can file an eviction suit three days after providing the tenant notice. At\u00a0Girling\u00a0Law, we can vigorously defend you against a tenant&#8217;s stall tactics. We can further negotiate settlements.<\/p>\n<h2>Contact a\u00a0Stephenville\u00a0Landlord Lawyer<\/h2>\n<p>Renting property can come with rewards and challenges. A lease should be customized to fit your needs as a landlord. A\u00a0Stephenville\u00a0landlord lawyer can assist in drafting your lease. A landlord lawyer can also complete background and financial checks on prospective\u00a0tenants or assist in enforcing your rights. Contact\u00a0<a href=\"\/contact-us\/\">Girling\u00a0Law<\/a> today at (512) 270-7927.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10806"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10806"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12712,"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10806\/revisions\/12712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}