texas tenants association meeting

I posted awhile back about the discovery of the fact that E’s landlord was routing electricity feeds for publicly-used devices (motorized gate, flood lights) through her personal electric meter and breaker box.

After jumping through several hoops, we found the Texas Tenant’s Union and attended their free weekly workshop. I’m now convinced that the information presented should be “required reading” for anyone renting a property.

The basis for their presentation was that all tenants should know what legal procedure to follow throughout the course of their tenancy even in landlord/tenant communication, in order to prevent situations later in which the tenant, although correct in a dispute, lacks any supporting documentation. The lecture moved through key points of the standard TAA lease and what the legal terminology means in everyday tenancy. Discussion included rights during eviction proceedings, etc.

I was surprised at the number of mistakes I’ve made in the past out of lack of legal knowledge, and E is in the same boat. Both of us have landlords who have been very kind, and with whom we’ve developed a congenial rapport. There have been things I never had properly documented, from existing apartment damage upon move-in, to damage done through violent incidents with drugged out neighbors. My trust rested in verbal discussion and the assurance by the landlord that “It will be taken care of”. What I see now, especially through the degeneration of Eilene’s situation with her landlord, is that it’s very important for landlords to appear congenial and create a false sense of security for the tenant, so that when something blows up the tenant has no documentation of anything and no legs to stand on.

I would highly recommend to anyone that they find a local meeting of a similar organization. It’s worth its weight in gold.