{"id":11647,"date":"2022-03-07T07:09:17","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T07:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/?page_id=11647"},"modified":"2023-05-23T03:00:45","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T03:00:45","slug":"who-is-a-landlord","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/who-is-a-landlord\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is A Landlord? Rights As A Landlord In Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who is a landlord? A landlord is someone who owns the property and rents it to others. A landlord has numerous duties and responsibilities when renting to tenants. Landlords have to deal with everything from management issues to dealing with bad tenants. There are even some legal issues unique to landlords that only a real estate lawyer can help you out with. We will discuss some of those duties and discuss why having a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frisco landlord attorney<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on your side is very important.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the Landlord-Tenant Law in Texas?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11650 size-full\" title=\"who is a landlord\" src=\"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/landlord.webp\" alt=\"who is a landlord\" width=\"626\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/landlord-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/landlord-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/landlord-400x266.webp 400w, https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/landlord-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/landlord.webp 626w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texas landlord-tenant law is a collection of statutes that govern landlord-tenant relationships. This collection of laws regulates the amount of rent that a landlord may charge, the amount of the security deposit and when it must be returned when a tenant vacates the property, as well as the obligations put on a tenant during their lease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Texas law, landlords are required to offer particular information to renters prior to signing the lease. They include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The use of lead-based paint is disclosed. You are required by federal law to inform your renter about the use of lead-based paint and the associated health risks. This is necessary if the rental unit was constructed before 1978.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your tenant selection criteria must be made public. You must share specific facts about your tenant selection procedure prior to screening a renter. You must specifically inform them of your tenant qualification standards and the reasons their application may be denied. Acceptable grounds for denial include a relevant criminal history and a poor credit score.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain information is disclosed in the lease. You must disclose extra information to the renter, such as security deposit refunds, interruption of electric service, right to repairs, late fines, and parking and towing laws.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utility disclosure. If you agree to supply and pay for gas, water, or electric services, you accept responsibility for any resulting difficulties.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Lease Contracts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lease agreement is one of the most crucial contracts in a landlord-tenant relationship. The lease is a legally binding document outlining the obligations that both the landlord and the tenant undertake to respect. In addition to specifics such as amenities, renovations, and other apartment characteristics, the lease contains legal information such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The monthly rent and payment plan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amount of the security deposit and what it covers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a pet policy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policy and procedures for repairs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roommate and visitor policies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landlord Responsibility and Rights in Texas<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your Texas landlord-tenant act establishes landlord obligations and rights with respect to rental properties and renters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are the essential <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/landlord-rights\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"landlord rights\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">landlord rights<\/a> in Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A landlord in Texas may:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0be given at least one month&#8217;s notice when the tenant chooses to move out<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0enter the unit without notice in an emergency,<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Texas, these are the basic responsibilities of a landlord.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landlords must do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make the apartment safe and comfortable for the renters in accordance with the Texas Property Code. It is your responsibility to address any problems that arise in the unit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comply with the Fair Housing Act. It is a landlord&#8217;s obligation to be aware of the protected classes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inform renters about the required disclosures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wait at least two days before imposing a late charge for the tenant&#8217;s failure to pay rent on time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texas Renters&#8217; Rights and Responsibilities<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Texas law, renters in Texas have the following rights. The ability to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remain in their rental home until the landlord has completed the eviction process.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Live in a house that complies with fundamental safety, health, and construction requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy the property in peace and quiet, free of unwanted annoyances.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When their Texas landlord wants to amend the terms of the written lease agreement, they must be issued with a notice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Request that repairs be completed within a reasonable time frame.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your renters must also respect certain duties, which include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following all of the provisions of the lease agreement. For example, refrain from unlawfully renting a room in the flat or exceeding the rental limit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking care of the unit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alerting the landlord of their planned absence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notifying the landlord when there is a problem with the property&#8217;s maintenance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping the noise to a minimum.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When planning to move out of an apartment, provide sufficient notice to the landlord.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texas Housing Discrimination Laws<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A landlord is required by the Fair Housing Act to prevent discrimination against the seven protected groups:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Color or race<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Religion<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National origin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sex<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disability<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family status<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As long as the renter can pay the rent and pass routine tenant screening processes, they should not be denied equal treatment or rental possibilities because they belong to a protected class.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texas Eviction Laws<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/eviction-landlord-representation\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">right to evict <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your renter if they violate the conditions of the lease\/rental agreement. In Texas, the following are examples of common violations:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failure to pay rent<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive wear and tear on the rental<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Causing annoyance to their neighbors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not relocating once the lease term has expired<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Property owners must follow the state&#8217;s lawful eviction procedure when evicting a renter. The eviction, for example, must not be motivated by discrimination or retaliation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, as the landlord, you are not permitted to utilize &#8220;self-help&#8221; eviction techniques, such as locking your renter out or taking their personal things from the property. These are illegitimate eviction methods.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Seek Legal Assistance from a Texas Attorney<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, landlords manage their properties on their own or with the help of a property manager. However, there may be times when a landlord must go to court to address issues with tenants. For example, a tenant may refuse to pay rent or may damage property and refuse to pay for repairs. In these situations and others, landlords need representation from an <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/make-sure-experienced-attorney-experienced-eviction-attorney\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"experienced attorney\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">experienced attorney<\/a> who can protect their rights.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speak to an Experienced Dallas Fort Worth Landlord Lawyer Today!<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you are a landlord or a tenant &#8211; you need the right advice. Whether you are faced with a major legal problem, or just have a routine legal question, you need to see someone who knows the law. Landlords and tenants often feel they can&#8217;t afford to consult a lot of attorneys; however, your solving these legal problems can impact your income and savings forever. Save yourself thousands of dollars in avoided losses \u2013 it&#8217;s well worth it to hire an experienced Fort Worth landlord lawyer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact us today and speak to one of our compassionate attorneys at Girling Law Firm, PLLC about your situation. Together, we can develop an effective legal strategy for your landlord-tenant issues.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who is a landlord? A landlord is someone who owns the property and rents it to others. A landlord has numerous duties and responsibilities when renting to tenants. Landlords have to deal with everything from management issues to dealing with bad tenants. There are even some legal issues unique to landlords that only a real [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"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\/11647"}],"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\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11647"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12715,"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11647\/revisions\/12715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlinglaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}