Regulations exist to protect landlords and tenants during housing transactions and agreements. Tenants must keep clean homes, alert the landlord of maintenance issues, follow community rules, and pay rent and fees on time. In turn, landlords should understand their responsibilities to renters to avoid breaching a contract, provide continual maintenance services, and protect their properties.
In Abilene, Texas and federal laws prevent landlords from discriminatory housing practices. A property manager cannot deny a renter on the basis of gender, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, or familial status. Exceptions may include small owner-occupied buildings and single-family homes an owner leases without the aid of a broker. Also, housing developments for seniors can restrict occupants on the basis of age, and organizations that operate housing may limit occupancy to members.
A landlord may not enter a unit unless the tenant permits it. The exception is if the lease provides specific reasons for entry. A property owner only has to give advance notice if the lease requires it, but an emergency may waive that requirement. Property owners do well to specify in the lease the right to enter a home when an occupant is away to handle repairs, respond to requests, leave notices, enforce community statutes, and show the unit to prospective residents.
Property owners must care for repairs promptly when an occupant faces a health or safety hazard in the unit. If a landlord delays caring for a serious issue, a tenant can file a health and safety complaint with the authorities. A landlord may not retaliate when the tenant exercises this right. If a landlord disputes with a tenant over which party is negligent or responsible for an accident, a personal injury lawyer often assists in the case.
Tenants and landlords In Abilene, Texas have numerous responsibilities to each other. Once an individual accepts regular payments in exchange for inhabiting a property, Texas law considers a written or oral agreement valid. Renters and property owners should understand the conditions of the arrangement to avoid disagreements and liabilities.