Information For Renters

Seeking emergency rental assistance? Links below to area programs!

The Texas Apartment Association (TAA) and the Austin Apartment Association (AAA) are the leading associations in the state and Central Texas representing rental property owners and operators.

AAA's vision is that people will thrive where they live. And for the Austin area, we wish for our residents in our rental communities to thrive! As such, we have provided a number of general resources below so you can find the support you need.

Please note the AAA does not represent tenants nor is able to provide renters with legal advice.

Tenant Rights Relating to Notices to Vacate and Evictions

You may find the following information helpful. Much of this information comes from the Texas Justice Court Training Center’s publication entitled Self-Help Legal Information Packet: When An Eviction Case Has Been Filed Against You. Its contact information is: (512)347-9927, https://www.tjctc.org.

Notice to Vacate

A notice to vacate is not an eviction, but it is the first step in the eviction process. It provides you an opportunity to vacate the premises prior to the filing of the eviction case. It provides you an opportunity to resolve the issues and possibly avoid a court proceeding.

The Eviction Case

The eviction is a lawsuit filed in Justice Court, usually to recover real property leased to you. Real property includes a house, apartment, duplex, a dwelling, or land. Often an eviction is a last resort. If you believe there may be unexplored avenues to resolve a dispute about your tenancy, contact your landlord to discuss possible alternatives to eviction.

You May Defend Yourself in Court

All eviction suits must originate in the Justice Court. A citation will be issued and served upon you. A court date will be set, often no later than three weeks after the eviction lawsuit is filed. The party which sues you is the plaintiff. If you get sued, you are the defendant. Both sides will have an opportunity at the eviction trial to present evidence and summarize their position. The court conducts a trial in your case and issues a legally enforceable decision. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the trial, both the plaintiff and the defendant have appeal rights. The court will make information about your appeal rights available.

It is Important to Appear for Trial: You have the right to appear at the trial and defend your rights. If you do not appear, that may be interpreted as no opposition to the eviction.

Specific Rules and Procedures Exist: There are statutes and procedural rules which control an eviction case. Those will be applied by the judge. Neither the judge nor court personnel are allowed to give you advice about the case. The judge will remain neutral and decide cases on the facts.

Communication is Key

Often, your tenancy will be based upon a written contract, the terms of which cannot be changed. Communicate with the landlord, however, to see if an agreement may be reached outside of court.

Much of this information comes from the Texas Justice Court Training Center’s publication entitled Self-Help Legal Information Packet: When An Eviction Case Has Been Filed Against You. Its contact information is: (512)347-9927, https://www.tjctc.org.

Emergency Rental Assistance:

Texas 2-1-1

If you are seeking assistance, you may want to contact Texas 2-1-1. It is a free, anonymous social service hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Texas 2-1-1 is a program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Call 2-1-1, or (877) 541-7905 or go to www.211texas.org.

General Renter Resources

If you are a renter and have a problem, we want to help you find resources to assist you. Unfortunately, we are not able to personally answer your questions or reply to inquiries about specific situations.

Although we do not represent tenants, and we are not qualified to give you legal advice; we have resources below to help you find the legal support you need. We encourage you to check with an attorney or look for legal resources here in the greater Austin area.

You might also find answers to your questions on the following pages:

TAA's Helpful Info for Renters

City of Austin Resources for Renters

Tenant Rights

Texas A&M University Real Estate Center provides a “plain English” Landlord and Tenants Guide for renters.

Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division