In Texas, renters have rights!
Application
You have the right to written notice of the selection criteria that will be used to determine your application and state that if you do not meet the criteria your application may be rejected, and your application fee will not be refunded.
Peace & Quiet
You have the right to not be evicted without cause or otherwise disturb your right to live in peace and quiet.
Health & Safety
You have the right to demand that the landlord repair any condition that materially affects your physical health or safety; to have installed at least one smoke detector in each bedroom; to vacate a dwelling and avoid liability for family violence or military service.
Security
You have the right to have the dwelling equipped with security devices such as window latches, door viewers, and keyed dead bolts or sliding door security bars, as well as the right to have installed, repaired, or rekeyed devices within a reasonable period of time.
Repairs
You have the right to repairs but must provide notice of the problem to the landlord, and the right to recover those repair claims, but you must file a separate suit that may not be part of the eviction suit.
No Retaliation
You have the right to not be retaliated against for complaining in good faith about necessary repairs for a period of six months from the date you made such a complaint, and to be provided with a key when a landlord changes the door locks on the dwelling whether or not the tenant pays the delinquent rent.
Parking
You have the right to be provided with written vehicle parking and/or towing rules and policies that apply.
Access to Management
You have the right to know the name and address of the owner of the premises, to a telephone number that will be answered 24 hours a day for the purpose of reporting emergencies related to a condition of the property that materially affects your physical health or safety if your landlord has an on-site management office
Notice
You have the right to be given prior written notice regarding a rule or policy change that is not included in the lease agreement and that will affect any personal property owned by you that is located outside your dwelling, and to advance written notice of electricity termination, which must be either hand delivered or mailed to you separate from any other documents.
Cash Payments
You have the right to make rental payments in the form of cash, unless the written lease provides otherwise. If you pay your rent in cash, your landlord must provide you with a written receipt.
Return a Deposit
You have the right to have your security deposit refunded to you within 30 days after you move out of the dwelling if you provided a written forwarding address to your landlord.
However, You CANNOT:
-Withhold any portion of last month’s rent on grounds that the security deposit serves as security for the unpaid rent.
-Sublet unlease the lease allows it, without the written consent of the landlord
-Withhold rent because the landlord fails to make repairs when the condition needing repair does not materially affect your physical health and safety
-Move out of your dwelling without providing notice.