Documenting Maintenance Issues as a San Antonio Tenant
Texas law only requires landlords to fix conditions that “materially affect the tenant’s physical health and safety.” Commonly, in practice, this means sewage backups, roaches or bed bugs, rats, mold, lack of hot water, faulty wiring or electrical shorts, roof leaks, and, sometimes, a lack of heat or air conditioning. The law also requires landlords to provide hot water, functioning smoke detectors, and security devices (locks and latches). Other conditions may not qualify for legal remedy.
But just because a problem is not covered under the law does not mean that you should be forced to endure substandard conditions. We believe all tenants are entitled to safe and comfortable housing, regardless of explicit legal protections. Identifying whether or not a maintenance issue is covered under the law is helpful in determining our strategy for effectively fighting for a solution.
How to Document Your Maintenance Issues:
Regardless of whether or not you believe the maintenance issue is enforceable by law, the first and most important step is document, document, document!
- Make a list of damages — fill out a repairs sheet thoroughly if your landlord provides one.
- Take plenty of pictures of the damages — include the day’s newspaper if possible to prove the date.
- Always communicate in writing with your landlord or property manager — certified mail is best, though email and text are viable backups.
- Keep dated documentation — including post office receipts, emails, texts, letter, and copies of everything you submit to the landlord or property manager.
Next Steps:
We have tips on how to effectively request repairs from your landlord or management. Our landlords and management can be slow or unresponsive when tenants ask for repairs, but there are ways to make them more likely to take action.
See our post about Submitting a Maintenance/Repair Request as a San Antonio Tenant.
Further Contact Information:
If it would help you to have more information, you can:
[A] schedule a call with us (we’re not lawyers),
[B] contact a lawyer, or
[C] attend one of our monthly Zoom meetings.
If you want to contact us, or get the Zoom meeting link:
Email: tenantsunionsanantonio@gmail.com
Text Messages / Phone: (210) 281–1477
Facebook / Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/TenantsUnionSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TenantsUnionSA