A New Bill Could Disrupt The Old Texas Landlord and Tenant Dynamic

Landlords also have to deal with squatters. These are people who will take over an empty home without signing a contract or paying any rent whatsoever. They have a frustratingly large amount of rights in Texas.

A new bill being introduced in Austin could make it easier for a landlord to evict their bad tenant...and, by extension, squatters (WFAA). HB 32 would allow for a landlord to evict a bad tenant or squatter without the need for a trial.

Texas Bill Could Change the Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center (DEAC) is pushing back against this legislation, saying it's not designed to evict bad tenants, or even squatters, but to essentially rewrite eviction laws in Texas. DEAC founder Mark Melton calls HB 32 a "poison pill."

This new bill, if passed, would switch the burden of proof from the tenant to the landlord. Also, the tenant cannot use an attorney to defend themselves. Melton believes this bill would allow landlords to evict anyone at any time for any reason with no legal recourse for the tenant.

How a New Texas Bill Could Change the Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Take a look at HB 32 for yourself HERE. If you are a landlord reading this, reach out to me at michael.gibson@townsquaremedia.com with your thoughts. You can also include any past issues where this might have helped your eviction process.

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