Renter Rights Texas - A.C. Broken
By acproblem
@acproblem (1)
United States
August 3, 2006 12:26am CST
My A.C. broke and now i have water damage on my carpet and the water is now leaking through the floor to the apartment downstairs. I have a water hose that runs through my apartment from A.C. unit to bathtub to drain water, this makes taking a shower very unlikely as there is a water hose in my tub that is draining water from my A. C. Can I withold my rent untill it is fixed.
2 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
3 Aug 06
In Texas, it is illegal to withhold paying your rent regardless of the situation unless you get a court order allowing you to do so or if you have lawfully terminated your lease because of the landlord's unlawful behavior with regard to repairs.
Under Texas law you must submit at least two notifications (preferably sent certified mail) and wait a reasonable time (rule of thumb is 7 days) for the rapairs to be completed. You should photograph any damage that is being done to the property.
"Under Texas law, regardless of what the lease says the landlord is required to repair problems that affect the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant and are not caused by the tenant, occupant, or a guest...For example, leaking plumbing, rodents, broken air-conditioning in extremely hot temperatures, sewage leaks, shattered sliding glass doors or caved ceilings all affect health and safety..." http://www.texastenant.org/rights/repairs/step4/step4.html
Texas property code: http://www.texastenant.org/rights/repairs/statutes/statutes.html
