What can I do about my horrible apartment complex?.!

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So I moved into an apartment. My mistake not looking at it before I singed a year long lease. Yes, I know I already got chewed out for it and I learned my lesson. Anyways I got into my apartment, it looked like a 12 yr old painted it. Paint on my floors, counters, appliances etc... Most of my electrical outlets don't work. My sliding door doesn't close all the way, and my toilet didn't flush(but luckily they fixed that). I was told I was getting a newly renovated apartment and that definitely isn't what I got. I talked to a bunch of rude, disrespectful people that tried to blame me for this all. They've told me they would fix it, but all they've done was fix my toilet. Now roaches are starting to pop up. I'm stressed and mad as all outdoors. What can I do?????? HELP!!!

3 Attorney Answers

I can think of two possible claims.
(1) You may be able to terminate your lease early without penalty if the Landlord has not provided you with a habitable dwelling and you have demanded that the Landlord make repairs. All residential leases - regardless of the Lease terms - have by law an implied warranty of habitability. The Landlord must provide a dwelling fit for human habitation. The lack of a working toilet - if it were the only one in the apartment - would likely be considered a breach of the warranty of habitability. However, since the Landlord has already repaired this, you cannot use it as a basis to terminate the Lease now. It's possible that a lack of working electric outlets could qualify but this would be very fact specific.
You also may have a claim under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act since it appears the Landlord made a significant misrepresentation that induced you to lease the apartment. You may have a claim for damages against the Landlord, and if your claim is meritorious, I suspect the Landlord would be amenable to a settlement that included the early termination of your Lease.
If you're simply miserable and want to move, you could give the Landlord notice as required in the Lease. Even though it's not stated in the Lease, the Landlord has a duty to mitigate damages and promptly advertise and release the apartment. Once a new tenant leases, you are no longer responsible for the rent.
A year is a long time to be miserable. Since there's a limit to the details you can provide in a public post, consider consulting with an attorney to determine all the options available to you. Sometimes a demand letter sent from a lawyer threatening litigation will go a long way towards resolving an issue, and that isn't very expensive.
To the degree these conditions materially affect the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant, there is a procedure in Texas law that *might* allow you to terminate the Lease. If not termination, at least you *might* be able to affect various self-help remedies, and offset the cost from rent.
You must furnish appropriate written notice(s) giving the LL an opportunity to cure. I'll place a link below so you can read the law.
Possible Deceptive Trade Practices Act violation and a safety issue for the door. Other possible health and safety issues. Call Code Compliance for your city or county and send a written request for repair via certified mail then you might have a case after the seven days from the delivery of the letter.

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