Texas Bill Looking to Change the Landlord

(Longview, Texas) - How many of you rent your home/apartment/townhouse? I'm one of those that do. I am 47 years old and have never owned a house. I'm hoping that will change in the next year or so. So yes, I've dealt with plenty of landlords in my life.

Landlords have a responsibility, the good ones at least, that I would not want. They have to deal with tenants that don't take care of the property. They have to deal with tenants who always come up with an excuse to not pay rent on time. It can be maddening for a landlord.

Texas Bill Could Change the Rights of Landlords and Tenants

Landlords also have to deal with squatters. These are people that will take over an empty home without signing a contract or paying any rent whatsoever. They have a frustratingly large amount of rights in Texas.

A new bill being introduced in Austin could make it easier for a landlord to evict their bad tenant...and, by extension, squatters (WFAA). HB 32 would allow for a landlord to evict a bad tenant or squatter without the need for a trial.

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Texas Bill Looking to Change the Landlord - Tenant Relationship

Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center (DEAC) is pushing back against this legislation saying it's not designed to evict bad tenants, or even squatters, but to essentially rewrite eviction laws in Texas. DEAC founder Mark Melton calls HB 32 a "poison pill."

This new bill, if passed, would switch the burden of proof from the tenant to the landlord. Also, the tenant cannot use an attorney to defend themselves. Melton believes this bill would allow landlords to evict anyone at anytime for any reason with no legal recourse for the tenant.

How a New Texas Bill Could Change the Landlord - Tenant Relationship

Take a look at HB 32 for yourself HERE. If you are a landlord reading this, reach out to me at michael.gibson@townsquaremedia.com with your thoughts. You can also include any past issues where this might have helped your eviction process.

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