What are your rights if you rent storage space in Texas?

HOUSTON – Whether you are moving or simply need to store extra stuff, renting a storage space is a common thing that people have to do at some point in their lives.

Renting a storage space comes with certain responsibilities and obligations for tenants, but tenants also have legal rights.

Here are the rights and responsibilities of renters and landlords when it comes to storage units in Texas.

Your rights

In Texas, laws designed to protect storage unit renters are found in Chapter 59 of the Texas Property Code.

The laws described here primarily deal with issues such as unpaid rent or selling items in a storage unit.

As a tenant of a storage unit, you benefit from the following rights:

• Right of access:During the opening hours of the facilities, the tenant has the right to access his storage space.

• Right to privacy: Facility owners cannot access your storage unit without permission, except in an emergency or if they have given you proper notice.

• Right to notice: A storage facility must notify tenants in advance of any changes to rental terms, rent increases, or new rules. It must also notify you in writing in advance before selling any of your items due to late payment.

• Right to security: A warehouse must maintain a safe and secure environment. A safe environment includes adequate lighting, working locks, and regular maintenance.

Likewise, an owner also has obligations and duties.

• Facility maintenance: The property must be maintained in good condition. The owner must repair any damage, keep the premises clean and ensure adequate security.

• Provide reviews: A landlord must notify tenants in advance before increasing rent, changing rental terms, or establishing new rules. They must also notify you in advance before accessing your storage unit outside of an emergency situation.

• Tenant defaults: If a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord can take steps to recover the funds, including auctioning off the stored items. Before they can do this, however, they must provide written notice and give the tenant a chance to pay. If the property being sold generates more money than the tenant owes, the landlord must notify the tenant of the excess proceeds, which the tenant can claim within two years.

In the event of a dispute between a tenant and a landlord, several options are available to them.

• Internally: Many storage centers offer ways to handle disputes or complaints internally. You can contact a manager or use a formal complaints procedure.

• Legal options: If a tenant is unable to resolve the issue internally, they can file a complaint with the Texas Division of Consumer Protection. You can find the link to file a complaint here . Additionally, you can also use small claims court to resolve disputes.

There are also some special circumstances that tenants and landlords should be aware of.

• Military members: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protects military tenants from having their property sold by warehouse owners without a court order or legal action. If a military tenant’s property is seized without following proper legal procedures, the tenant may be entitled to recover the value of the property as well as attorneys’ fees and court costs.

• Natural disasters: In the event of a hurricane or flood, Facilities must take steps to protect your property. Before a disaster strikes, it would be wise to check the terms of your rental and ask your landlord what the facility’s emergency plan is.