Housing Rights Resource Page

Important News Update for 1/21/2021: the COVID-19 relief bill was just signed extending the CDC pause on evictions to March 31, 2021.

Quick Links to COVID-19 Housing Rights Resources:

Disability Rights Texas helps ensure people with disabilities have access to and opportunities to rent or own homes and apartments in their communities. This work includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Ensuring that landlords and property owners do not discriminate against persons with disabilities in renting or selling property
Making sure that housing is accessible to people with disabilities to the extent required by law
Advocating to increase the amount of accessible, affordable and integrated housing for individuals with physical and mental disabilities

These resources are provided for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

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Featured Resources

Stop Debt Collector Harrassment with Accommodation Request Letter

Please answer the questions below to generate a letter to your landlord. After you answer the questions and click submit, you will be redirected to a new webpage where you can download the letter. Please download the letter. Then send the letter to your landlord. This accommodation generator will NOT send the request to your… Continue reading Stop Debt Collector Harrassment with Accommodation Request Letter

Avoid Eviction with a Rent Accommodation Letter

If you have unpaid rent, past due rent, or late rent, you can use our interactive Unpaid Rent Accommodation Request Generator below to ask for more time to pay rent, delay an eviction, or even forgive past rent if you or someone in the house has lost a job because of COVID-19, lost income because of COVID-19 or if losing a job or income is making someone in the household’s mental health worse. This tool lets people use the protections of federal civil rights laws to ask for more time. Continue reading Avoid Eviction with a Rent Accommodation Letter

CDC Declaration Letter Form

The CDC issued an order that would temporarily halt residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. If you are facing an eviction or your landlord has already filed an eviction notice, you can inform your landlord and others about the CDC order. Continue reading CDC Declaration Letter Form

Letter to Landlord to Request Early Lease Termination

Do you need to request a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act to terminate your lease early? Use our form to generate a letter that you can give to your landlord. Continue reading Letter to Landlord to Request Early Lease Termination

Housing Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This handout covers many housing-related issues that could arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the issues include ending a lease early, how to deal with people entering your home, what to do if you can’t make rent, and more. Continue reading Housing Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Evictions in Texas During COVID-19 Pandemic

This handout covers how to qualify for protections under a new CDC order that pauses some evictions for non-payment of rent until December 31, 2020. Continue reading Evictions in Texas During COVID-19 Pandemic

Handouts

Housing Rights: Disability, Race, National Origin and Language

Neighbors, Homeowners Associations (HOA), Landlords, and Realtors often target people with disabilities for things they ignore when anyone else does them. We consistently see people with disabilities targeted because of their disability and their race, national origin, or the language they speak. Continue reading Housing Rights: Disability, Race, National Origin and Language

Filing a Complaint: Possible Discrimination in Housing

If you want to file a complaint with a government agency about possible discrimination or fair housing violations in Texas, you can contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD). Continue reading Filing a Complaint: Possible Discrimination in Housing

Accessibility and Safety During and After a Disaster or Emergency

If you are having problems such as inaccessible communications, a shelter that won’t allow your service animal or make other accommodations, or figuring out how to apply for FEMA services, this handout can help you navigate an emergency or disaster in your community. Continue reading Accessibility and Safety During and After a Disaster or Emergency

On or Off-Campus College Housing and COVID-19

If you are experiencing any of the issues described in this handout, you can ask your landlord to change their policy to accommodate your needs to allow you out of your lease early without paying penalties, fines, or fees. Continue reading On or Off-Campus College Housing and COVID-19

Housing Rights as Texas Returns to School

In Texas, some students and school staff are returning to school. This handout has information about what you can do if your landlord, neighbors, or HOA have treated you differently because you work in a school or have kids that attend school. Continue reading Housing Rights as Texas Returns to School

Medical Professional’s Guide to Housing Issues During COVID-19 Pandemic

We have seen instances of medical professionals discriminated against because of what they do and where they work. The discrimination stems from being associated with people with disabilities, being thought to have a disability, or having a disability. In this handout, we address several scenarios we know are playing out or that we anticipate could occur. Continue reading Medical Professional’s Guide to Housing Issues During COVID-19 Pandemic

Eviction and Reasonable Accommodations

This handout gives a summary of a tenant’s right to ask for a reasonable accommodation in order to avoid an eviction. It is based on both federal and Texas laws. Continue reading Eviction and Reasonable Accommodations

Housing Rights Information for People with Disabilities Impacted by Natural Disasters

This handout contains information about (A) your rights under the ADA when staying at a hotel or shelter, (B) your rights under the Federal Fair Housing Act and how it impacts where you live, and also (C) a sample letter asking for a reasonable accommodation to terminate your lease early. Continue reading Housing Rights Information for People with Disabilities Impacted by Natural Disasters

Ending Discrimination in Housing: Fair Housing Laws

Learn about the Fair Housing Act, requirements for new and existing housing, how to file a complaint if you think if you’ve been discriminated against, and more. Continue reading Ending Discrimination in Housing: Fair Housing Laws

Videos

Know Your Housing Rights During COVID-19

Know your housing rights during the Coronavirus pandemic! Whether you’re a renter or homeowner, you have rights and options that offer additional support. Continue reading Know Your Housing Rights During COVID-19

Watch Know Your Housing Rights During COVID-19.

DRTx Legal Tips: Housing Rights

In this video, a Disability Rights Texas attorney explains some of the basic housing rights of veterans and others with disabilities. The video covers what landords can ask tenants, reasonable accommodations, and home modifications. Continue reading DRTx Legal Tips: Housing Rights

Watch DRTx Legal Tips: Housing Rights.

External Links

Stop TX Eviction
Texans facing eviction because they can’t afford rent can use this toolkit to learn about their rights and rental assistance options.
CDC Says Landlords Can't Evict Yet - Declaration Letter Templates from Lone Star Legal Aid
Disability Rights in Housing
Section 504 People with Disabilities FAQ Sheet for Fair Housing
The Rights of People with HIV/AIDS

Housing