Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Abilene

Find the right Tenant attorney in Abilene, TX

Tenant Law in Texas

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

There are many 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 Abilene, TX

The most important and most noticeable 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.

Landlords also have a right to be free from damage to the rented unit. Tenants are expected not to damage their dwellings, intentionally or negligently. Landlords can deduct the cost of repairs from the tenant's security deposit. In general, tenants are not responsible for damage resulting from ordinary wear and tear.

Tenant's Rights in Abilene, 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 provide. Landlords in Abilene, Texas are under a legal duty to make sure that their apartments are habitable. There are many factors that are considered in determining 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).

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 Abilene, Texas, these areas must be kept in a safe condition, at the landlord's expense.

A tenant also has a right, under federal law and the laws of Texas to be free from discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, or gender. Landlords can additionally not discriminate against persons with disabilities, and must make reasonable accommodations for those disabilities.

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 Abilene, 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 Abilene, 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 Abilene

Abilene, Texas is a city in Taylor and Jones Counties. It has a population of approximately 118,000 people, and is the county seat of Taylor County.

Abilene, Texas was founded in 1881 by cattlemen, as a shipping point on the Texas and Pacific Railway, which was beginning to link faraway parts of the country with one another.

Modernly, Abilene, Texas is a vibrant, thriving community, with many notable residents. For example, an Abilene, Texas attorney named Sarah Weddington lives in the city. She represented "Jane Roe" in the case of "Roe v. Wade," which resulted in the legalization of abortion nationwide.

Of course, there are many other capable and accomplished attorneys in Abilene, Texas, who just don't happen to be famous. However, if you are in need of any type of legal services, it's very likely that a lawyer in Abilene, Texas can help.

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