Your safety is, of course, your top priority and it should be for a landlord as well. To safeguard tenants, Texas has created regulations that must be followed to ensure that people are afforded protection while they live in a rental.
Locks for Doors and Windows
A rental should provide adequate security for the tenants. In the state of Texas that means:
- All windows should have latches
- Exterior doors should have keyless dead bolts
- There should be door viewers on exterior doors
- Keyed doorknob or deadbolt lock on exterior doors
- Sliding doors should have door pin locks and handle latches or security bars
In addition the landlord must rekey the house within seven days after you move in. It’s best to request that this be done before you take up residence for safety purposes. You can also request that they change the locks if there’s a break-in or attempted break-in.
It’s important to understand that you cannot install a lock on your own without the permission of the landlord. Also, security devices are considered permanent fixtures so you cannot take it with you when you go if you purchase and install them.
Smoke Detectors
Texas Property Code §92.251 – §92.262, Subchapter F states that the landlord must equip the rental with operable smoke detectors. There are a number of regulations regarding how many smoke detectors must be in a unit and where they must be placed. Efficiency units are required to have one smoke detector. At least one smoke detector must be installed outside of each bedroom unless they are all off of the same corridor. In that instance there needs to be at least one detector near the bedrooms. If the unit has a second floor with a bedroom then a detector must be installed on the ceiling at the top of the stairway.
The smoke detectors should be in place and tested to ensure they are operable before you move in. Once you’ve moved in it’s up to you to keep the smoke detectors in good working order and you cannot disconnect the detectors.
Required Repairs
If there is something in need of repair that affects your safety and/or security the landlord is required to fix the problem ASAP. Examples include broken window latches, door locks that don’t work properly, etc. However, the caveat here is that if you, someone else living in the rental or a guest cause the problem, not wear and tear, then you’ll be on the hook for making the repair.
Make your landlord aware of the needed repair as soon as you discover it. If they don’t take action send them a certified letter that states the needed repair and keep a copy of the letter for yourself. The landlord will have three days to correct the issue, unless they have made proper notifications in the lease, which allows them up to seven days to make the repairs. If they still refuse to make the repair you have the right to end the lease, sue to force the landlord to make the repair or pay to have the repair done yourself and then deduct the cost from the next month’s rent.
