What rights do tenants have to dispute rental charges or fees?

Tenants in Texas have certain rights to dispute rental charges or fees. These rights are established by the Texas Property Code (TPC). According to the TPC, tenants may dispute late fees and other charges they believe are not justified. To begin the process of disputing rental charges, tenants should contact their landlord in writing and explain why they believe the charges are unjustified. They must also request a refund of the disputed charges. The landlord is then obligated to respond to the tenant’s dispute in writing within 30 days. In the response, the landlord must explain why the disputed charge is valid and why the tenant is obligated to pay it. If the tenant disagrees with the landlord’s explanation, they may file a lawsuit in a justice of the peace court or small-claims court. As part of the lawsuit, the tenant must present evidence supporting their claim that the charges should be refunded. If the court rules in the tenant’s favor, the landlord must refund the disputed charge. The landlord may also be ordered to pay the tenant’s court costs, filing fees, and attorney’s fees. As a result, tenants in Texas have the right to dispute any rental charges or fees that they believe are unjustified. They should first seek to resolve the dispute outside of court by notifying their landlord in writing. If the matter cannot be resolved between the tenant and landlord, the tenant may file a lawsuit in small-claims court to seek a refund of the disputed charge.

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