Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in North Richland Hills

Find the right Tenant attorney in North Richland Hills, TX

Tenant Law in Texas

In North Richland Hills, Texas, relationships between tenants and landlords can sometimes become strained.

Both parties to a landlord/tenant relationship are governed by an extensive body of laws and regulations, defining their legal rights and obligations.

Landlord's Rights in North Richland Hills, TX

First and foremost, landlords have a right to timely payment of rent from their tenants, at the agreed-upon rate. This, of course, imposes on tenants a duty to pay their rent in full, in a timely manner.

Additionally, 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 responsible.

Tenant's Rights in North Richland Hills, TX

Much like landlords have a right to get paid for the service they provide, tenants have a right to get what they pay for: a suitable place to live. In North Richland Hills, Texas, all residential rental agreements carry an "implied warranty of habitability." This means that a landlord implicitly guarantees that any residence he or she rents will be fit for human habitation. In general, an unit will be automatically deemed uninhabitable if it lacks running water, electricity, heat, and adequate protection from the elements. There are many more factors that can be considered, as well, but those are some of the basics.

Additionally, tenants have rights to common areas that are free of physical obstructions, as well as serious health and safety hazards. Common areas are the places in apartment buildings and other residential complexes which every tenant can access, and include hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes. In North Richland Hills, Texas, these areas must be kept in a safe condition, at the landlord's expense.

Under federal and Texas law, tenants are also entitled to protection against discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, marital status, or gender. Such discrimination can lead to severe civil penalties against the landlord. Landlords additionally cannot discriminate against tenants based on physical disability, and have to make reasonable accommodations for physically disabled tenants. For example, they have to allow disabled tenants to make minor physical alterations to the unit (at the tenant's expense) to make it more accessible. Now, they don't need to allow the tenants to have the building remodeled. We're just talking about things like installing handrails in the bathroom, and similar things. The landlord can, however, require tenants to restore the apartment to its original condition, at the tenant's expense, once the tenant leaves.

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 North Richland Hills, Texas Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, chances are that you want to avoid conflict. But if you do end up in a seemingly irresolvable conflict with the other party, a North Richland Hills, Texas attorney can help you protect your rights.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in North Richland Hills

North Richland Hills is located in Texas's Tarrant County. It is recognized as a suburb of Fort Worth. The 2010 census reported its population to be 63,343 people.

An interesting fact is that in 2006, this area was included as one of the "Top 100 Best Places to Live in America" by Money Magazine.

Top employers include Birdville Independent School District, Wal-Mart, North Hills Hospital, Santander Consumer USA, Inc., Tarrant County College-Northeast Campus, Tyson Prepared Foods, ATI Career Training Center, and Con-Way Freight Inc. There are also a decent number of law offices and well-experienced attorneys that reside in North Richland Hills. These offices and attorneys are sufficient to provide residents and local businesses with excellent legal guidance.

Kambri Crews, author of the popular book Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir featured North Richland Hills in the book. Also, Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush actor and singer, Logan Henderson, is from North Richland Hills.

All in all, this is a wonderful area to visit or call home!

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