A Dallas lease agreement outlines the terms and conditions for a landlord renting a property to a tenant. It guides tenants and landlords, ensuring both parties know their rights and responsibilities during the lease term. It also has provisions explaining the procedures for renewal and termination.
Dallas Lease Requirements
Some of Dallas’s landlord-tenant laws come from Texas Property Code Title 8, Chapter 92, but landlords should also be aware of local considerations:
Crime Prevention Addendum
Landlords must include a crime prevention addendum in a lease agreement for single-family and multi-family properties (Dallas Municipal Code Sec. 27-5.2).
Source of Income Ordinance
A 2016 Dallas City Council ordinance states that a landlord can’t discriminate against a tenant due to where they get their income (Dallas Municipal Code Sec. 20A-4).
Optional Lease Disclosures and Addendums
Here are some optional lease disclosures and addendums landlords can use to protect themselves from liability:
- Mold disclosure: A landlord should consider including a mold disclosure to avoid being liable for mold damage.
- Medical marijuana use disclosure: Patients can use medical marijuana in Dallas with a doctor’s prescription. Landlords should use a disclosure to confirm if tenants can smoke on the property in designated areas. They might prohibit smoking completely and only allow non-smoking consumption via edible products, capsules, or creams.
- Asbestos disclosure: Landlords should reveal if asbestos is present on the property.
