Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Plano

Find the right Tenant attorney in Plano, TX

Tenant Law in Texas

In Plano, 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 Plano, 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 can bill the tenant for any damage they cause to the unit, whether it was intentional or negligent. The costs of repairs for such damage can be deducted from a tenant's security deposit, but it should be noted that tenants aren't accountable for normal wear and tear, over which they have little control.

Tenant's Rights in Plano, TX

Tenants, most basically, have a right to a habitable apartment. After all, this is what they're paying for. Plano, Texas landlords are obligated to see that the units they rent to tenants are fit to be lived in by people. Many various defects might render an apartment uninhabitable, such as serious infestations and other problems with sanitation, lack of running water or electricity, or failure to provide adequate protection from the outside 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 Plano, 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.

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 further not discriminate against persons with disabilities, and must make reasonable accommodations for those disabilities.

And finally, most state laws prevent landlords from arbitrarily evicting tenants. If the lease agreement is for a set period of time, the landlord typically 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 Plano, Texas Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

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

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Plano

Plano is a Collin County city that ranks 9th most populous in the State of Texas. Most folks who aren't from Plano still know about the annual Plano Balloon Festival or that it's consistently ranked in the top communities in the United States by Forbes Magazine and CNN Money Magazine. Much of those outstanding rankings have to do with the famous corporations headquartered in Plano. Cinemark Theatres, Dr. Pepper-Snapple Group, J.C. Penny, Pizza Hut, Dell's Computer Services, Frito Lay, Rent-A-Center, and Alliance Data are all located in Plano. The popular social phenomenon Facebook operates a number of servers in their Plano facility, too. The government facilities, as you would assume with such a massive and important community, are quite extensive.

Plano was ranked as "The Safest City in America" by Forbes Magazine in 2010 making it even more attractive to tourists and locals. A number of celebrities live in Plano including cyclist Lance Armstrong, professional golfers Fred Couples and Hunter Mahan, actors like Chance Crawford and Kevin McHale who plays "Artie" on primetime hit-series Glee.

A branch of Southern Methodist University (SMU) is located in Plano and enrolls 3,000 graduate students who major in business, education, and technical work like engineering. Plano is home to outstanding schools and companies making it a very desirable community in the United States. Unsurprisingly, there's also an outstanding cast of new and seasoned lawyers who are familiar with local Collin County and Texas State Courts.

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