Trying to end lease in TX (tenant, rental, house, fees)

[Jason73125]

My wife and I rent a house in the country. It's on the higher side of rent and the house is on the lower side of being taken care of. But the schools are amazing. Our landlord lives over a hr away. He has become more of a pain and annoyance than anything when he shows up. It's just annoying stuff he asked me to run a new water line for a water spigot bc I'm a plumber. I bought all the materials installed it the way I'd recommend. I give him the receipt for materials and he questions why I insulated pipes, why'd I put in a shut off valve at the house. Here's the annoyance. I did the labor for free. Another example: he dropped off a bunch of paint and said he thought the front deck needed some painting done to it. My lease says nothing about me doing maintenance. Both my wife and I are sick of this guy. Just leave us alone rent is paid on the first. I'll let you know if repairs are needed. Here's my question. We have found from the tax office he claims a homestead exemption on the home. Also in the lease there's nothing mentioning Texas property code 92.056. Which if you scroll to the bottom of that code in section g says must be underlined or in bold on the lease. We are 10 months in on a 24 month lease. Does anyone think the homestead exemption or the property code argument would stand up in court if we notified him the lease is null and void.

[AZ Manager]

Homestead means nothing to you at all as it is between the owner and the tax authority.

Does property code 92.056 state that the lease is void if it isn't in bold or underlined?

[Jason73125]

No it doesn't say the lease is void without it. Basically what it says is the lease must contain language which states the remedies available to to the tenant should he not make repairs in a timely manner. My lease doesn't contain any wording about it being voided. Or how long it takes him to make repairs

[AZ Manager]

Sec. 92.0563. TENANT'S JUDICIAL REMEDIES.
(a) A tenant's judicial remedies under Section 92.056 shall include:

(1) an order directing the landlord to take reasonable action to repair or remedy the condition;
(2) an order reducing the tenant's rent, from the date of the first repair notice, in proportion to the reduced rental value resulting from the condition until the condition is repaired or remedied;
(3) a judgment against the landlord for a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500;
(4) a judgment against the landlord for the amount of the tenant's actual damages; and
(5) court costs and attorney's fees, excluding any attorney's fees for a cause of action for damages relating to a personal injury.

There is this that you could threaten him with and see if he budges/lets you out. I doubt a court would see this as being applicable for his violation of 92.056(g) but you could try.

As for the other stuff that is between you and him but if you wanted to charge him for your time you should have made that arrangement beforehand not after the work was completed. Also know if you try to charge him you need to stay within your states contracting laws; here any work below $1,000 you don't need a license for but that includes materials.

[Spottednikes]

Just tell him you don't feel comfortable doing repairs and accepting liability on a house you don't own.
Stop repairing things.
The homestead exemption is between him and the taxing entity. I suppose you can turn him in if you want, and if he finds out it was you he might ask you to leave.

[meo92953]

Another situation about not burning bridges. If you do not need him as a reference, turn him in if you want. If you do need his reference, you may have to chalk it up to lesson learned in life.

[sunburned_in_seattle]

Originally Posted by meo92953

Another situation about not burning bridges. If you do not need him as a reference, turn him in if you want. If you do need his reference, you may have to chalk it up to lesson learned in life.

I would hope you don't need him as a reference. Just use previous