If you’re new to the Lone Star state or renting for the first time, renting a property in Texas can feel like stepping into uncharted territory. With so many terms and conditions hidden in lease agreements, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. This is why it’s important to know your rights as a renter, more than just reading the fine print. It’s also about feeling safe in your apartment and confident in your decisions. Because even if you’re an experienced renter or just signed your first rental, everyone deserves to feel comfortable where they live. Read along with this article as we’ll empower you by discussing and understanding your rights as a renter in Texas.
What is the Texas Health and Safety Code?
Texas Health and Safety Code books give a rulebook for landlords and tenants to stop overly too many landlords in Texas from subjecting renters to unsafe living situations. These rules indicate various aspects that will make a house safe and livable, from the basic utilities to good structure and sanitation issues. It is important to not expose a renter to health risks and other dangerous things given the general well-being of an individual while staying in your property. It is recommended to hire a local Austin Texas property management company that takes care of these needs regularly while still being able to please your tenants.
This code requires landlords to provide facilities including but not limited to water supply, proper plumbing, and heat in a dwelling. They must also take measures against pest infestation, mold, and any deterioration that might make a property unsafe. For example, if the roof leaks during every rainstorm or in winter, landlords are required to do repairs as soon as possible.
For tenants, this means you don’t have to settle for subpar living conditions. If your landlord fails to meet these standards, the Texas Health and Safety Code provides options ranging from requesting repairs to taking legal action if it gets to that. At the end of the day, everyone deserves a house that is more than just four walls—a place that is cozy, safe, and genuinely livable.
Criteria for Uninhabitability
- Structural Damage
Structural damage usually means some issues could jeopardize the safety of the property. The stability of the property is at risk as this may involve serious problems such as a collapsing roof, cracked walls, or foundational damage resulting in uneven flooring.
The law recognizes certain structural problems in Texas as dealbreakers for safe living conditions. There are some things that landlords cannot do in Texas, which includes ignoring maintenance requests.
- Lack of Basic Utilities
A home should offer the necessities for everyday life, not just a place to live. Under Texas law, a property may be legally uninhabitable if important utilities like heat, electricity, or water are nowhere to be found.
Imagine trying to prepare dinner without running water or enduring the winter without heat. Not only are these inconveniences, but they also violate your rights as a renter, and no one should face these problems. According to the Texas Health and Safety Code, tenants should be given access to functional utilities that make the space safe and livable.
Important utilities include running water, safe electrical wiring, functional heating, especially in the winter, and proper sewage disposal. The property may no longer meet legal requirements for habitation if these are missing or cease to function due to neglect. Tenants are entitled to notify your landlord and request repairs as a tenant. If they don’t act on time, you might be able to take legal action to defend your rights and well-being. After all, everyone is entitled to a property that offers the necessities for a comfortable, healthy life.
- Presence of Hazardous Materials
What happens when hazardous materials such as asbestos, mold, or lead-based paint enter the picture? These substances can render a home uninhabitable and pose significant health and safety risks.
In Texas, landlords are required to maintain a property free from dangerous, hazardous materials. For instance, mold growth from unchecked leaks or lead-based paint in older buildings can cause health problems ranging from allergies to long-term illnesses. Asbestos, often found in older homes, is another culprit linked to severe respiratory issues.
For example, mold growth in older buildings from unchecked leaks or lead-based paint can cause allergies and long-term illnesses. Another problem is asbestos, which is commonly found in older homes and has been linked to serious respiratory issues. Landlords must take immediate action to resolve any hazardous materials that may be present. As a tenant, you are free to voice your concerns without worrying about your landlord retaliating. There should never be any hidden hazards in a house to start with.
- Pest Infestation
No one wants to share their apartment with unwanted guests, especially the creepy-crawly types. Pest infestations, like rodents, cockroaches, or bedbugs, can be frustrating, and they can make a rental property uninhabitable under Texas law.
If pests take over, landlords should involve hiring an exterminator and dealing with the underlying issue, such as caulking holes or fixing plumbing leaks that draw pests.
Severe infestations, such as swarms of roaches or mice running around your house, can be irritating and extremely harmful to your health. However, you have the right to request prompt repairs or pest control to make your rental habitable again.
Immediate Consequences for Non-Compliant Landlords
- Evacuation
If a property owner allows serious problems to go unstated, making the property unlivable, such as structural hazards, lack of utilities, or pest infestation, tenants may have to vacate the rental property. In Texas, it is a serious step not taken lightly unless health and safety conditions warrant it.
In some cases, if the landlord is notified to make specific repairs and fails to do so, tenants can terminate their leases unilaterally without penalty. Some tenants may seek recourse in the form of lawsuits or other means.
- Disconnection of Utilities
If the landlord is negligent about doing repairs or addresses habitability issues unreasonably, they are liable to severe consequences as per Texas law. One very serious matter is the disconnection of utility services. Landlords are legally prohibited in Texas from cutting off utilities, such as gas, electricity, or water, evicting tenants, or punishing them for complaints against them.
If the utilities are cut off, tenants have the legal right to refuse rent, complain, or file a lawsuit against the landlord. These amenities constitute safe, habitable living; thus, any landlord not supplying them faces serious legal penalties.
Conclusion
In order for a tenant to comfortably live in safe conditions in Texas, they have to be aware of their rights. Texas law is somewhat effective in guaranteeing habitability, from basic utilities to structural integrity.
The basic legal minimum in your dwelling as a tenant has to be met. Failure by the landlord to provide them means they are liable to receive legal action. Knowledge of such rights empowers tenants and fosters good relations with your landlord. So, if you face issues during your lease, don’t hesitate to assert your rights and make your rental home a safe living space.
Local News Via - MyrtleBeachSC.com
