As a Texas landlord, you may have reason to enter the building you rent for a variety of reasons. You may have repairs you’re liable for, safety measures to check, and other concerns about your property. But that property is also another person’s residence, and that makes your legal rights to enter that property complicated.
Maintaining good landlord-tenant relationships is important, and the lawyers at The Curry Law Firm can help you maintain that relationship. Before you enter one of your tenants’ homes or apartments, be sure you have the right to take that action.
Like many states, in most cases, Texas law doesn’t allow landlords to enter a tenant’s residence without warning the resident before they enter. Tenants have specific rights to the quiet enjoyment of their home, which means the times you’re able to enter the property are limited.
If you’re considering renting out an apartment or home, you may then want to consider outlining when you may be able to enter the property. For example, your lease agreement may include specific guidelines about entering the apartment to make repairs to the apartment. Typically, you would provide at least twenty-four hours notice before entering the property.
But that doesn’t mean you don’t have any grounds to enter the property without notice. As the landlord, you’re responsible for the safety and security of your property, and because of this, there are certain situations where you may be able to enter the property without warning.
For example, you may have reason to believe that an emergency is happening inside the unit. You or another person may have smelled smoke or otherwise heard something that suggested someone was injured.
You may also enter the property if you’re posting a notice under the landlord’s lien law or if you’re seeking possession during an eviction. In these cases, you may have a tenant who hasn’t been paying rent, for example, which can impact the terms of your lease.
Even if you follow these steps carefully, you may still find yourself in a situation where you’re unsure whether you have grounds to enter the residence without notice, or you may have been accused of doing so and breaking your lease. Because of this, you may need to speak with a lawyer about your current situation and what you can do to protect yourself from legal action.
As a landlord, you have certain rights to the property you own. But because that property is being rented and resided in by a tenant, your rights as a landlord may be complicated. That makes it difficult to know, for example, when you have a right to enter the property.
At The Curry Law Firm, we want to make these decisions easier. Your lawyer can review the lease and represent you in court if you’ve been accused of infringing on your tenant’s rights, or if you hope to avoid that situation. Determine your best strategy for success with a free consultation when you call 713-678-0013 or fill out the online contact form below.
