The 7 Illegal Things Your Landlord Could Be Doing Right Now

(Tyler, Texas) - Something you may be considering going into 2026 is finding a new place to live. If you're a renter, there are a ton of places to search through before finding that right spot. The reasons for that move will vary from person to person.

Sadly, the reason some need to move isn't because they simply want a change of scenery or their financial outlook has changed. Some need to move because their landlord isn't taking care of the issues around the dwelling. As much as we want to be a good tenant, landlords have laws to follow as well.

The Illegal Things Your Landlord Could Be Doing Right Now

Not all landlords are bad. Not all property management companies are bad. That's not to say that all are perfect, either. Me and my wife recently had an issue with our property management company. After a month of miscommunication, the issue was finally resolved but could have been handled better.

Some landlords or property management companies can be impossible to work with (texasattorneygeneral.gov). Some won't make reported repairs in a timely manner or won't return deposits that were labeled as refundable. These are just a couple of the ways that landlords or property management companies are breaking the law in Texas.

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The Illegal Ways Your Landlord Could Be Treating You

Remember, too, that you as the tenant have a set of responsibilities while living on that property. You'll have to take care of the lawn, keep the house clean and/or make sure that the walls, doors and other structures inside and outside of the home are not purposely damaged.

You'll need to make sure the landlord or property management company is aware of any and all issues that occur inside and outside the home so they can be repaired. If you are a tenant who is doing everything above to make sure the property and home you're renting is taken care of and you're paying rent on time, and your landlord or property management company isn't doing the seven things below, they could be breaking the law in Texas.

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