HOUSTON – Since KPRC 2′s recent article on the controversy surrounding a Houston landlord, many renters are asking what steps to take when dealing with a bad landlord.
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Chances are at some point in your life you’ve dealt with a landlord who has no interest in addressing problems in your rented house or apartment.
In Texas, it’s tougher, in some circumstances, for tenants to gain a foothold in disputes with their landlord.
So, if your landlord refuses to fix something, tenants should be careful with their next steps.
For some “critical” repairs related to health and safety, tenants can get three different bids and have the lowest bid work performed, but there are numerous pitfalls involved, especially if the work is botched. It is recommended to hire an attorney if your living situation comes to that point.
Landlords are not required to make repairs if the tenant is behind on their rent.
Requests for repairs must be made in writing. Either mail the request twice by regular mail (about one week between mailings) or better yet, send the request by certified mail.
TexasTenant.org has a sample repair request letter for tenants to use.
“Under Texas law, no matter what the lease says, the landlord has to repair problems that materially affect the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant and are not caused by the tenant, occupant, or a guest. "
There are six options listed on TexasTenant.org, including an option to terminate the lease. However, tenants are not recommended to terminate their lease unilaterally without consulting with an attorney.
Lone Star Legal Aid has an online portal for applicants at LoneStarLegal.org or tenants can call our office at 713-652-0077 to apply for legal services that are available for eligible tenants