Susan S. asked
I have a tenant who has threatened to report me to the city and accused me of being a liar and a thief. The lease I used is not a TREC lease as I am not a real estate agent. I simply downloaded a generic lease. Is there anything in Texas law that says it won’t be valid? Additionally, the tenant moved in on November 26th with no evidence of rodents, but on December 7th, she informed me about a mouse in the kitchen. I took immediate action to address the rodent issue, but the tenant continued to leave food trash in bedrooms and bathrooms, contributing to the problem. I initially offered to release her from the lease, but later changed my mind as she refused to cooperate in preventive measures. She has been in a hotel since December 9th and shut off all utilities on December 15th. She moved in on November 26th, and on December 7th, she stated she saw a mouse in the house. I went above and beyond to deal with the rodent issue, but now I need to know my options for getting my property back and what I can legally charge her. Can I use the abandonment clause as she said she moved out, and how do I handle the rent and the rodent issue?
July 30th, 2023
Lisa W. answered
In Texas, the law does not require a specific lease form, so your generic lease is likely valid as l...
July 30th, 2023
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