Dallas Residential Lease Agreement

A residential lease agreement in Dallas is a written agreement between a landlord and a tenant. This document outlines the terms and conditions surrounding the use of a rental property in exchange for periodic payments.

Residential Lease Agreement Requirements in Dallas

Crime-Prevention Addendum

Dallas landlords are required to include a crime-free addendum in their residential lease agreement. This applies to both single-family and multi-family properties. [1]

Landlord-Tenant Rights and Regulations in Dallas

Source of Income Ordinance

The Dallas City Council passed an ordinance in 2016 making it illegal to discriminate against a tenant due to their source of income. [2] An example of source of income discrimination would be a landlord refusing to rent a property to a prospective tenant because they are receiving tenant-based rental assistance.

Optional Lease Agreement Disclosures and Addendums in Dallas

While not mandatory, landlords can add specific disclosures and addendums to their leases. This helps outline the responsibilities of the tenant and can prevent future liability issues.

Mold Disclosure

Due to its humid climate, Dallas is more prone to mold than other cities in Texas. If landlords choose not to include a mold disclosure in their lease agreement, they may be liable for future mold-related damage.

Medical Marijuana Use Disclosure

Medical marijuana is legal in Dallas—which is why it’s important to disclose if it will be permitted on the property. Texas law allows landlords to restrict marijuana usage to non-smoking methods only. Clarify if there are designated smoking areas on the premises.

Asbestos Disclosure

Since Texas is listed among the top states for asbestos exposure, landlords should include a disclosure stating if asbestos is present on the property. If asbestos is present, tenants should take precautions to minimize the chance of disturbing the asbestos fibers.

Summary of Required Lease Disclosures for the State of Texas

• Landlord’s Name and Address – The landlord must include their name and mailing address on the lease. This informs tenants of where to send any future legal notices or demands.
• Parking Rules – Texas landlords who enforce parking rules must provide a copy of the rules in the rental agreement.
• Late Fee – In Texas, rent is considered late after 2 days. Landlords must outline late fees in the rental agreement in order for them to be enforceable. Late fees may include an initial fee and a daily fee for each day the tenant’s rent is unpaid.
• Emergency Phone Number – Texas requires landlords to provide a 24-hour emergency phone number that can be used to report emergencies within the building. Management should include this information in the lease and post it outside of their office.
• Right to Repair and Deduct – Texas landlords must provide documents that express, in clear language, the tenant’s right to repair and deduct.
• Lead-Based Paint – Federal law states that any home built before 1978 must disclose the risks associated with lead-based paint.
• Flooding – As of January 2022, the State of Texas requires landlords to disclose flood risk information for a rental property.

Sources

The owner of a multi-tenant property shall require that every lease or rental agreement, or renewal of a lease or rental agreement, executed after September 1, 2004 include a crime prevention addendum complying with this section.

A person commits an offense if he, because of race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, national origin, or source of income…