Other Housing Issues
Legal Resources
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Application Fees
When you apply to rent a residence, some landlords charge a nonrefundable application fee to pay for the costs or screening a rental application. They may also ask for an application deposit, which is refundable to you if you are rejected as a tenant. Typically, if you are accepted as a tenant, your application will provide that your application deposit is converted in all or part into your security deposit. Read More
- By:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
- Read this in:
- Spanish / Español
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BASIC PARTITION OF REAL ESTATE AGREEMENTS AND DOCUMENTS
- By:
- Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy, Inc.
- Read this in:
- Spanish / Español
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Defenses Against Eviction
Once you receive the notice to vacate and even before you receive the notice from the constable for your court hearing, you should consider whether you have any defenses available to the eviction suit. In a nonpayment of rent eviction case, the Justice of the Peace will not consider most cases of hardship (e.g., car breaking down, being in the hospital, losing your job). Read More
- By:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
- Read this in:
- Spanish / Español
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Early Termination of Lease
You should read your lease carefully to see if it allows you to move out before your lease expires, and, if it does, what sort of notice to your landlord is required. Read More
- By:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
- Read this in:
- Spanish / Español
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Have You Been Paying Too Much Rent? PDF
IF YOU HAVE A SECTION 8 VOUCHER & YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER ARE DISABLED AND BEGIN WORKING, YOU MAY BE PROTECTED FROM A RENT INCREASE! Content Detail
- By:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid - Austin
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Eviction Appeals to County Court
If the Justice of the Peace (J.P.) judge rules against you in an eviction case and signs a Judgment for your eviction, you have the right to appeal. If you do not appeal the decision of the J.P. within five days and you do not move out, your landlord can ask the J.P. for a ?writ of possession?, which allows the constable or sheriff to give you a 24-hour warning and then to supervise the removal of your family and your belongings from the premises. Read More
- By:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
- Read this in:
- Spanish / Español
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Eviction from Mobile Home Parks
If you own your mobile home and are renting a lot from a mobile home park, you have additional protections if you face the threat of eviction. Of course, you should try to talk to your landlord to see if you can resolve your differences. Your interest may be better served if you work something out without having to go to court. Read More
- By:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
- Read this in:
- Spanish / Español
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Evictions in Justice of the Peace (J.P.) Court
If you are being threatened with eviction, you should try to talk to your landlord to see if you can resolve your differences. Your interests may be better served if you work something out with the landlord without having to go to court. Read More
- By:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
- Read this in:
- Spanish / Español
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Finding Out Who Owns the Property
As a tenant, you have the right to know the name and address of the owner of the premises. You also have the right to know the name and street address of any property management company that is managing your house or apartment. The landlord may satisfy the duty of disclosure by providing you with a written copy of the information, by having the information posted continuously in a conspicuous place in the apartment complex or resident manager's office, or by having the information included in your copy of the written lease agreement or house rules. Read More
- By:
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
- Read this in:
- Spanish / Español
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HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies
- By:
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
