Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Texas

Gave no notice

Hello I am coming to you because my sister in law needs to get a question answered and well maybe someone can help her out... Ok this is it, she answered an ad for a room mate wanted..ok so she rented this room it cost her 350.00 per month, there was no mention of a contract no a lease was never mentioned nor signed...during her stay she was told that she would have to watch this persons pets, and that she was asked to work in this persons side business with out any pay and she did this. She was told that she had to watch the pet lizards and keep the entire house clean on her own. Well she moved out without notice and now the loandlord is threatening her with e-mails going to her work and well everyone will be able to read and see those. The landlord wants her 350.00 rent for the month of Feburary even though she moved out before the rent was due can she do this and can she take legal recourse out through the courts. Sorry about being so long here...I hope to hear back soon so I can relay her this information.

Thank you

--name removed--


Asked on 2/01/05, 9:58 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Sharon Campbell Sharon K. Campbell

Re: Gave no notice

Even without a contract, if she was paying monthly, she had a month to month tenancy which requires giving thirty days notice. So, landlord does have the right to the February rent. On the other hand, landlord has duty to mitigate damages, should be trying to re-let the room. If he does, if someone moves in before the month is out, tenant is due a pro-rated refund. If he is told not to communicate with her by email or fax at work, he should stop. Threaten him with a lawsuit for invasion of privacy. Give him an address to communicate with you - it doesn't have to be your residence - just somewhere where you can receive mail.

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Answered on 2/01/05, 10:40 am


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