Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Dallas

Find the right Tenant attorney in Dallas, TX

Tenant Law in Texas

In Dallas, Texas, relationships between tenants and landlords can occasionally become strained.

There are various rights and responsibilities that landlords and tenants have. It's important that each party is aware of their rights, and the rights of the other party. By knowing and respecting these rights, the risk of conflict should be reduced dramatically.

Landlord's Rights in Dallas, TX

The most important and most apparent right that a landlord has is the right to timely payment of rent from the tenant. This, of course, means that the tenant has a duty to pay rent.

They also have a right to compensation for any damage that a tenant causes, beyond ordinary wear and tear. Landlords are free to bill the tenants for repairs to damage they caused, and deduct the cost from the security deposit.

Tenant's Rights in Dallas, TX

The most basic right of a tenant is the right to a living space that's fit for human habitation. This is, after all, what they're paying the landlord to present. Landlords in Dallas, Texas are under a legal duty to make sure that their apartments are habitable. There are various factors that are considered in deciding if an unit is habitable or not, but, generally, an unit will not be deemed habitable if it lacks any of the following: running water, electricity, heat, and protection from the elements (such as proper insulation, and windows that close).

Tenants also have a right to ensure that the common areas of their apartment building are reasonably safe. Landlords are required to make sure that the common areas of their buildings meet Dallas, Texas's building codes, and that there are no conditions that create unnecessary safety hazards. They are obligated to make, at their own expense, the necessary repairs.

Under the laws of Texas, and the United States, discrimination in housing on the basis of race, religion, or gender is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, landlords must not discriminate against renters on the basis of any physical disability. They also have to allow the renter to make reasonable modifications to their apartment, to make it more accessible. Generally, landlords are only required to allow relatively minor and reversible modifications, and tenants cannot compel them to remodel the building, for example. Also, once the tenant leaves, the landlord can bill the tenant for the costs of restoring the apartment to its original condition.

And lastly, most state laws prevent landlords from arbitrarily evicting tenants. If the lease agreement is for a set period of time, the landlord generally can't evict the tenant until the lease expires, without a good reason. Valid causes for eviction include unpaid rent, illegal activities on the property, damage to the building caused by the tenant, and excessive noise.

Can a Dallas, Texas Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants generally want to avoid conflict with one another. Nonetheless, conflicts are sometimes unavoidable. If you end up in a major dispute with a landlord or a tenant, a reputable Dallas, Texas landlord/tenant attorney can help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Dallas

Dallas is known as Texas's most exciting city. There is something for everyone to do here.

Families can enjoy a day at Six Flags, the Dallas World Aquarium, SpeedZone racing park, the Dallas Zoo, or the Dallas Arboretum. Other popular attractions include the Sixth Floor Museum, Heritage Village, Public ArtWalk Dallas!, and the Tourt 18 Golf Course. Overall, Dallas is filled with many people including families, young professionals, students, and the elderly. Therefore, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this lively city.

Dallas is also home to many large law firms with the best legal minds on its payroll. Moreover, Dallas also has many mid to small sized firms that can easily fulfill the legal needs of Dallas citizens. Overall, people in Dallas have it all, a lively city, great attractions, and a thriving legal industry.

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