Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Texas

We moved into this rental property on June 15, 2009. Our Lease ends June 1st, 2010. I will admit, we have been late on rent a few times, but paid the late fees and due amount. We took in a dog back in the fall. We forgot to pay a pet deposit. In January '10, we gave her the deposit of $150. We then took in another dog recently, and thought that the pet deposit we paid was for any dog on the premises, not per pet. She recently came to our home and stated we owed her another pet deposit. Upon looking further into the lease, section 9A stated it was per pet, but in the "other" section states just a $150 pet deposit. So we were confused. She had a paper, that my husband mistakenly signed without consulting me, that stated our rent would increase $50 dollars per month for "continuous" violation of section 9A, and we would be charged another $150. We are no doubt paying her another pet deposit, but in our lease it states that there is no rent increase through the term of lease. So I guess my question is, is she allowed to do this? And if not, since my husband has signed the paper already, are we liable for the extra $50 dollars per month? Myself and my children are only listed as persons allowed to live in the home. I am not on the lease itself. Thank you in advance!


Asked on 3/23/10, 1:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Dunn Mark D. Dunn

Do you plan to stay at this apartment complex after June 1? If you simply move out, that would solve all your problems.

If you're planning to stay there, It sounds like you might benefit from simply sitting down with somebody in charge and explaining to him why there's a misunderstanding. If that doesn't work, that is, if they decide to be horsey about it, smile, stand up, thank the guy, and go home. Turn on your computer, go into Google, and find an apartment complex where they have better sense.

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Answered on 3/29/10, 9:14 am


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