Jan. 12, 2009
Dear George: We rent a house in Texas from a man who lives in California. The house's fence blew down during Hurricane Ike and has not been repaired. There have been several break-ins in our neighborhood where the thieves have gained access through damaged backyard fences, and I'm worried our house is next. The leasing agent told me that our owner is not responding to her requests to fix the fence. We have three months left on our lease. What should we do?
Answer: If you signed a Texas Association of REALTORS® residential lease, read completely Section 18, Repairs, items A through F. Among other information, item A should contain a phone number for emergency repairs. If you haven't called this number, consider trying to contact the landlord this way. Item F contains provisions that would allow you to terminate the lease without any penalty; consult your attorney to see if any of these apply to your situation.
E-mail a question to ask George & Chuck or fax it to 713-978-6684. The answers to questions in this column do not contain legal advice. If you wish to obtain legal advice, you should consult your own attorney.
