Texas Laws and Regulations A Landlord Must Know

There are several legal responsibilities a landlord in Texas has to know to avoid losing lots of cash over tenant disputes and lawsuits. As a landlord, it is obvious to maintain your rental property. Still, you will have to go a little overboard to understand the importance of choosing tenants in a nondiscriminatory manner and the laws behind state rules on uses, limits, and security deposit returns. Find out below how you can avoid legal problems with your tenants.

Adhere to state rent rules

Texas late fees, termination for nonpayment of rent, and other rent rules regulate several rent-related issues. These laws clearly state that a landlord should give their tenants three days' notice before filing for eviction for tenants late with rent payment. As much as raising rent and evicting tenants are normal procedures, bear in mind the specific procedures and rules under Texas laws to avoid legal problems.

Landlord disclosures

Under the Texas tenant laws, the landlord must disclose the following information to his tenants:

Nonrefundable fees; disclose any information on nonrefundable fees if present in the rental property agreement.

Disclose any security deposit deductions to your tenants in the rental property agreement. Under Texas laws, this amount does not have a maximum limit and is refundable within 30 days.

Disclose owner information such as the name and address of the landlord and any owner company hired by the landlord.

Tenants' responsibilities and rights under Texas law

The below tenant rights are the responsibilities of the landlord. The below are some of the tenant rights under the Texas laws; tenants have the right to;

• Inhabit a quiet and peaceful environment.
• Secure housing. The landlord has the responsibility of installing security measures on the premises.
• Remain on the premises except when there is a breach of contract, i.e., a landlord does not have any right to evict the tenant without a reasonable cause.
• Inhabit a healthy and safe environment with well-maintained and repaired premises.

Prepare rental agreement or a legal written Lease.

A legal written lease or rental agreement is a document you and your tenants' sign stating the contractual basis of your agreement, the number of days the tenant will occupy the premises, and any other relevant business details. The legal agreement states the rules and regulations you and your tenants should follow under Texas law.

Use an effective and legal agreement to avoid landlord-tenant disputes. Do not include illegal clauses in this document or fail to disclose important information, for this could lead to severe penalties.

Tenants exercising legal rights

Do not retaliate against tenants when they exercise their legal rights; it is illegal in Texas. For instance, evicting a tenant for complaining of poor equipment or run-down facilities will land you in trouble. Instead of evicting the tenant or acting against him, try drafting a good paper trail stating how you handle your repairs and tenant relationships.

Anti-discrimination laws

Texas's Fair Housing regulations ensure that state and federal anti-discrimination statutes are adequately implemented. According to the Fair Housing Act, landlords are prohibited from doing the following:

• Preventing a tenant from renting or bargaining for a home.
• Creating unjust regulations, conditions, or perks in leasing agreements
• restricting tenants to certain facilities and resources.
• Not allowing a tenant to view the property.
• Preventing a tenant from participating in rental-related memberships.
• Intimidating or retaliating against renters who exercise their entitlement to fair housing

Discriminating against a renter base on factors such as:

• Color
• Origins of a person's nationality
• Sex
• Marital status
• Disability
• Religious affiliations
• Relationship to one's family
• Race and ethnicity

Conclusion

Lease agreements are built based on landlord-tenant agreements, and they must be adhered to if both parties are to preserve a positive working relationship during the lease. If you need further information, we recommend seeking legal advice.