Tag: Houston

Can the CARES act save me from eviction?

On By Your Attorney and Counselor at LawIn attorney, evictions, Texas, UncategorizedLeave a comment
focused young lady sitting on floor in living room
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Following the COVID-19 pandemic, I have received many calls from tenants who asked me about the CARES Act and whether the CARES Act applies to them.

What is C.A.R.E.S.?
The CARES Act is short for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act that was signed into law on March 27, 2020. This act prohibits filing new evictions for non-payment of rent against tenants. The ban is to last for 4 months and ends on July 25th.

Who is impacted by the CARES Act?
If your apartment complex takes advantage of the Federal Housing and Finance Agency’s (FHFA) COVID-19 forbearance program, your landlord cannot evict you from your apartment. If the Landlord received a forbearance on his mortgage, the landlord cannot evict you for unpaid rent.

The CARES Act will apply to any property that is “insured, guaranteed, supplemented, or assisted in any way, by any officer or agency of the Federal Government.” That means properties are not allowed to evict you until July 25 if they:

  1. Participate in Section 8 or Housing Choice
  2. Have been purchased by or received loans from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
  3. The act also stops landlords from charging late fees on these properties.

Can my landlord evict me before July 25, 2020?
No, the CARES Act does not allow a landlord evict for nonpayment of rent or late fees. After July 25th, the Landlord must give 30 days notice of filing for eviction on the basis of non payment of rent before he can file a suit to evict. As such, the Current CARES Act covers tenants until August 23, 2020.

If you are a Landlord or Tenant with any questions about the CARES Act, give me a call on my cell or text, 832-896-6288. If you have any other legal questions (criminal, family, civil, etc.) or know someone who needs to “talk to an attorney”, give me a call too or send me an email: attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Help, the landlord locked me out, what can I do? Am I evicted?

On By Your Attorney and Counselor at LawIn evictions, Justice of the Peace, landlord tenant law, real estate, UncategorizedLeave a comment
black and grey keys
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Unfortunately, there are many scrupulous landlords out there who take non-payment of rent matters into their own hands instead of going through the legal process. This results in me receiving calls from tenants who come back from work only to find the locks changed or another lock on the door preventing them from getting in.

Can a landlord lock you out?
Yes a landlord can lock out a tenant, but the landlord provide conntact information where the tenant can call at anytime to get access into the apartment.

What does the law say about locking out a tenant?
The law controlling landlord/tenant rights in Texas is found in the Property Code. Specifically, the law about lockouts is found here:

Section 92.0081:

(c) If a landlord or a landlord’s agent changes the door lock of a tenant who is delinquent in paying rent, the landlord or the landlord’s agent must place a written notice on the tenant’s front door stating:

(1) an on-site location where the tenant may go 24 hours a day to obtain the new key or a telephone number that is answered 24 hours a day that the tenant may call to have a key delivered within two hours after calling the number;

What if the landlord refuses to let me back in?
If a landlord refuses to let you into your apartment/house, then you have been wrongfully evicted and the landlord is subject to damages. Contact David Hsu now by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Disclaimer:  this website and blog posts are for general information and educational purposes only. This blog post and website provides basic information and does not provide specific legal advice to your situation. By using our website, or by communicating with our office by comment, phone, text, or e-mail, you confirm that there exists no attorney-client relationship between you and David Hsu Brogden and Associates. Each legal issue is complex and you must seek a licensed attorney in your specific jurisdiction to discuss your specific situation.

Can I evict my tenant during the coronavirus crisis? (Texas specific).

On By Your Attorney and Counselor at LawIn evictions, Justice of the Peace, landlord tenant law, real estate, UncategorizedLeave a comment
woman in gray shirt sitting on bed
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The corona virus crisis impacting all of us has led to an increased number of calls from landlords and tenants and the main reason for the increase in phone calls is the mandated shelter in place policies and its economic impact – whether through reduced hours or temporary closing of their place of employment. As rent is the largest monthly expense for most people, I’ve been experiencing a large number of calls from my landlord/clients who ask me if eviction is even possible during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The short answer is the landlord can file an eviction to evict a tenant, but the courts won’t hear the case until or after April 19th. The Supreme Court of Texas issued an emergency order stopping all hearings or proceedings until after April 19. What does this mean? It means the landlords still need to send the 3-day notice to vacate. On the 4th day the landlord can then file the eviction case at the local Justice of the Peace. However, instead of the clerk handing you a piece of paper with the court date in two weeks, the court clerk will instead hand you just a receipt confirming the service and filing fees have been paid. After April 19th, the Court clerks will set the cases for hearings.

If you are a landlord or tenant and have any questions – or if you have any general legal questions, please feel free to reach out to me by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Please note:

  1. This is only specific for Texas eviction laws, each state has their own so please verify with a licensed attorney in your state;
  2. The situation is constantly changing so this information may be out of date;
  3. The Supreme Court of Texas may issue another emergency order at anytime so this information may also be out of date;
  4. This post is for general information purposes only, as each legal issue is unique and eviction laws are state specific, you must consult with an attorney licensed in your state for the most accurate legal advice.

Disclaimer:  this website and blog posts are for general information and educational purposes only. This blog post and website provides basic information and does not provide specific legal advice to your situation. By using our website, or by communicating with our office by comment, phone, text, or e-mail, you confirm that there exists no attorney-client relationship between you and David Hsu Brogden and Associates. Each legal issue is complex and you must seek a licensed attorney in your specific jurisdiction to discuss your specific situation.