Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Houston

Find the right Tenant attorney in Houston, TX

Tenant Law in Texas

In Houston, Texas, relationships between tenants and landlords can sometimes become strained.

There are several 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 Houston, TX

Landlords are, of course, entitled to collect rent from their tenants. If a tenant fails to pay the agreed-upon rent, the landlord is usually able to evict the tenant without too much trouble, though the process can sometimes get fairly complicated.

Furthermore, landlords have a right to be compensated for damage a tenant causes to a rented unit, either intentionally or negligently. Landlords have a right to deduct repair costs from tenants' security deposits, unless the damage was caused by normal wear and tear, for which tenants are not accountable.

Tenant's Rights in Houston, TX

Most basically, tenants have a right to get what they're paying for: a dwelling fit for human habitation. To this end, landlords have to ensure that the units they rent meet Houston, Texas's minimum standards for habitability. These requirements are normallyy not difficult to meet. They include basic amenities such as running water, electricity, a working phone line, heating, and protection from the elements.

Additionally, tenants are entitled to common areas which are reasonably safe and clean, and free of physical obstacles. Areas such as lobbies, hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes must comply with the building codes of Houston, Texas. Additionally, any other unreasonable safety hazard, even if it doesn't violate a specific provision of a building code, can create liability for the landlord if it injures a tenant.

Under the laws of Texas, and the United States, discrimination in housing on the basis of race, religion, or gender is strictly prohibited. Additionally, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, landlords must not discriminate against renters on the basis of any physical disability. They also have to authorize 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.

Finally, the laws of most states protect tenants from unfair eviction. In general, as long as a tenant is paying rent on time, and is not damaging the unit, they cannot be evicted before the term of the lease expires, unless there is a very good reason to do so (such as excessive noise caused by the tenant, or illegal activities in the apartment).

Can a Houston, Texas Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Tenants and landlords always want to avoid getting into any serious disputes - these disputes interfere with the tenant's living arrangement, and the landlord's business. In short, they help nobody. While a good Houston, Texas attorney can certainly help his or her client prevail in such a dispute, they may be more valuable for their ability to help prevent such disputes from escalating in the first place.

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Life in Houston

Houston, Texas is a large area with many fun-filled attractions for tourists to enjoy. For starters, the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center consists of 1,620 acres and 100 facilities where people can experience a zero-gravity environment and a virtual rocket launch. For all those with secret astronaut aspirations, this NASA attraction is perfect!

The Houston Zoo has over 4,500 animals and is a great place for some family fun. Kemah Boardwalk consists of a large amusement park, Ferris wheel, train ride, hotels, and restaurants. It is the mini-Disneyland of Houston!

Other popular attractions include the Museum District, Downtown Aquarium, Galleria Mall, and Bayou Place, the popular entertainment megaplex filled with theatres, bars, lounges and restaurants.

With a large population of 2.1 million people, it is natural that a large legal industry is needed to suit the needs of so many. With a few law schools in Houston producing many graduates, the mid to small sized law firms adequately handle the citizens' legal needs.

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