Full question:
I live in Texas, in a two bedroom rented house. While I was in office yesterday, my landlord came to the premises and removed the door knob to all the doors. The doors were working just fine and they needed no repairs. I am not sure if the landlord did this to make me quit the premises or just to annoy me. Under the Texas landlord tenant laws, what action can I take against the landlord?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Date:
- State: Texas
Answer:
In Texas, according to Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, a landlord cannot remove a doorknob or any door mechanism unless it's for a legitimate repair or replacement. If your landlord violated this law, you have two options:
- You can recover possession of your home.
- You can terminate your lease and seek damages, which include a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $1,000, actual damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees.
This law is designed to protect tenants from unlawful actions by landlords. If you believe your landlord's actions were unjustified, consider taking action based on these provisions.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.