Gun owner - landlord discrimination ?

[johncanfield]

Take your money and run.

[RoyGBiv]

I just got notice from my landlord that he is not going to offer a renewal on my lease "since I own guns and ammo".

How totally childish.
1. Offer to sign a waiver or other document that gives him some reassurance that you will take full responsibility for any mishaps or liability arising from your guns.
2. Ask for a meeting to discuss the issue and try and reason with him... If you've always paid rent on time, and kept the house in good order, he would be a fool to kick you out for this reason. Not to say that there aren't lots of fools in the world... but.. as a landlord, you need to be a bit flexible about your renters idiosyncrasies.

I had a tenant for a few years that was a professional photographer/videograher. I recall one visit to the house to fix a broken dishwasher and when I knocked on the door he met me out side to warn me that he was working on a project and it was spread all over the living room carpet. What was the project?? Turns out he was putting together all the promotional materials (photos, calendar, video, TV commercial) for a local "gentlemens' club". Did I get mad and throw him out? Of course not. But I did start checking in on him more frequently

[bulinm]

Move and never look back. Are these apartments ? Which one.

[Redneck_Buddha]

I just got notice from my landlord that he is not going to offer a renewal on my lease "since I own guns and ammo".

How totally childish.
1. Offer to sign a waiver or other document that gives him some reassurance that you will take full responsibility for any mishaps or liability arising from your guns.
2. Ask for a meeting to discuss the issue and try and reason with him... If you've always paid rent on time, and kept the house in good order, he would be a fool to kick you out for this reason. Not to say that there aren't lots of fools in the world... but.. as a landlord, you need to be a bit flexible about your renters idiosyncrasies.

I had a tenant for a few years that was a professional photographer/videograher. I recall one visit to the house to fix a broken dishwasher and when I knocked on the door he met me out side to warn me that he was working on a project and it was spread all over the living room carpet. What was the project?? Turns out he was putting together all the promotional materials (photos, calendar, video, TV commercial) for a local "gentlemens' club". Did I get mad and throw him out? Of course not. But I did start checking in on him more frequently

I have ZERO faith that he could even reason with someone like this.

[baldeagle]

If you have a lease contract with him, then I would tell him that he needs to give you a proper eviction notice in writing. That will buy you more time to find another space.

http://texastenant.org/eviction.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I definitely would not leave on his terms. I'd take full advantage of the law. At least that way it will cost him money. In the meantime I would be looking for a new place. If I found one, I would leave without notifying him. Send him the key through certified mail, return receipt requested.

Per the OP, he's not being evicted. His lease is simply not being renewed. Huge difference.

And I'm saying he should force the landlord to evict him. That buys him more time to find another place without paying rent where he is and hurts the landlord. Win, win.

[VMI77]

Why would you want to stay there and give the landlord your money when he is obviously a moron!

This.....

Also, how sure are you that this is the real reason? My son and his wife found themselves in a similar situation --but nothing to do with guns-- the landlord most likely either wanted the place for a friend or relative, or simply wanted to jack up the rent to take advantage of the housing shortage due the influx of workers to the Eagle Ford Shale.

[RottenApple]

If you have a lease contract with him, then I would tell him that he needs to give you a proper eviction notice in writing. That will buy you more time to find another space.

http://texastenant.org/eviction.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I definitely would not leave on his terms. I'd take full advantage of the law. At least that way it will cost him money. In the meantime I would be looking for a new place. If I found one, I would leave without notifying him. Send him the key through certified mail, return receipt requested.

Per the OP, he's not being evicted. His lease is simply not being renewed. Huge difference.

And I'm saying he should force the landlord to evict him. That buys him more time to find another place without paying rent where he is and hurts the landlord. Win, win.

And hurts him, probably even more than it hurts the landlord.

[Jaguar]

I guess he would refuse to rent to cops as well?

[Tic Tac]

Per the OP, he's not being evicted. His lease is simply not being renewed. Huge difference.

And I'm saying he should force the landlord to evict him. That buys him more time to find another place without paying rent where he is and hurts the landlord. Win, win.

It sounds like you're assuming he won't need a decent credit rating before 2020.

[baldeagle]

Per the OP, he's not being evicted. His lease is simply not being renewed. Huge difference.

And I'm saying he should force the landlord to evict him. That buys him more time to find another place without paying rent where he is and hurts the landlord. Win, win.

It sounds like you're assuming he won't need a decent credit rating before 2020.

Do people just assume they know everything about everything?

According to this site - http://blog.creditkarma.com/credit-101/ ... my-credit/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - it has no effect unless there's a judgment by a court. If he forces the landlord to file for eviction, that buys him time. He doesn't have to wait for a judgment to move out. The point is to make the landlord jump through hoops so he has time to find another place. He can simply keep living in the place while he looks for another place. When the landlord insists that he move, he can tell the landlord that he never received notice. That buys him three days minimum.

Sec. 24.005. NOTICE TO VACATE PRIOR TO FILING EVICTION SUIT. (a) If the occupant is a tenant under a written lease or oral rental agreement, the landlord must give a tenant who defaults or holds over beyond the end of the rental term or renewal period at least three days' written notice to vacate the premises before the landlord files a forcible detainer suit, unless the parties have contracted for a shorter or longer notice period in a written lease or agreement. A landlord who files a forcible detainer suit on grounds that the tenant is holding over beyond the end of the rental term or renewal period must also comply with the tenancy termination requirements of Section 91.001.

Then he gets another month, if he's on a month to month contract.

Sec. 91.001. NOTICE FOR TERMINATING CERTAIN TENANCIES. (a) A monthly tenancy or a tenancy from month to month may be terminated by the tenant or the landlord giving notice of termination to the other.

(b) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is at least one month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later:

(1) the day given in the notice for termination; or

(2) one month after the day on which the notice is given.

(c) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is less than a month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later:

(1) the day given in the notice for termination; or

(2) the day following the expiration of the period beginning on the day on which notice is given and extending for a number of days equal to the number of days in the rent-paying period.

(d) If a tenancy terminates on a day that does not correspond to the beginning or end of a rent-paying period, the tenant is liable for rent only up to the date of termination.

The purpose of this is to buy time to find another place to live and to force the landlord to obey the law.

If the lease didn't have language that allows him to terminate without cause, then he can sue the landlord.

Sec. 91.004. LANDLORD'S BREACH OF LEASE; LIEN. (a) If the landlord of a tenant who is not in default under a lease fails to comply in any respect with the lease agreement, the landlord is liable to the tenant for damages resulting from the failure.

(b) To secure payment of the damages, the tenant has a lien on the landlord's nonexempt property in the tenant's possession and on the rent due to the landlord under the lease.

If the landlord wants to be a jerk, then I see no reason for the tenant to be nice or even accommodating. Make him work for his eviction. Make him explain in court why he's evicting. That public record will show that there was no credit-affecting reason for the termination.

[JALLEN]

If you have a lease contract with him, then I would tell him that he needs to give you a proper eviction notice in writing. That will buy you more time to find another space.

http://texastenant.org/eviction.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I definitely would not leave on his terms. I'd take full advantage of the law. At least that way it will cost him money. In the meantime I would be looking for a new place. If I found one, I would leave without notifying him. Send him the key through certified mail, return receipt requested.

Per the OP, he's not being evicted. His lease is simply not being renewed. Huge difference.

And I'm saying he should force the landlord to evict him. That buys him more time to find another place without paying rent where he is and hurts the landlord. Win, win.

As part of the eviction process, the landlord will obtain a judgment for back rent and whatever other damages, likely including attorney fees. I understand it can be difficult to collect debts in Texas, but only a complete pauper could pull this off.

[LeonCarr]

Is it in the lease that firearms and ammunition are forbidden?

Holding you rent hostage will leave you wide open for an eviction lawsuit, you will lose in court, and you will get to pay court costs and late fees on top of what you owe him for back rent.

I would just move, make sure the place is spotless when you leave, and make sure that you get your deposit back. If not, and he does not give you an itemized in writing list of what he used your deposit money for within 30 days, then per the Texas Property Code you can sue him for three times your deposit plus 100 bucks. Then go buy more guns :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[TexasGal]

The voice of experience: Take detailed pictures or video of every wall, every room, every floor, and all of the property when you leave. Otherwise, you may face expensive "clean up" fees. This guy sounds like the type who will want you to foot the bill for all new carpet, paint, etc., and claim it was excessive abuse on your part that made it necessary. Normal wear and tear is to be expected.

While this whole thing is unfair, it is not illegal and it is his property. If you have been renting for several years, this guy is also your only recent reference to give to your next perspective landlord. Don't count on renting anywhere very easily without a reference. Giving him a load of stuff in retaliation may feel satisfying, but would certainly also hand the guy concrete things to say against you to another landlord.
If you think he is going to be a problem that way, then see if you can get notarized statements from your next door neighbors as to your care of the place, lack of disturbances, etc. Compile proof (bank statements etc) that your rent was always on time, and even hand a perspective landlord a background check record you ran on yourself when you decide you want a property before he can have a chance to call the jerk. I know someone who did all this to overcome a bad reference from a former vindictive landlord and it worked. I do understand this will not sit well with the urge to strike back and I don't blame you one bit but the goal is be able to rent a place you really want elsewhere.

[The Annoyed Man]

Second, I would make my home, while still there a living, breathing NRA festival. Forcing said landlord to publically in the light of day come out against citizens and those that hold their rights as something not to be infringed. When others ask,,,,,and they will.... when other ask why you're pushing the issue, why you're making a big deal of it.. ask them.... If he refuses a tenant this inalienable right ... what will he diced next is no longer permissible in his perverse little world.

As a property owner he has a right to make the decision he has,,, But with decision, come consequences, that and the 1st Amendment does not absolve one from consequences, just protects the right to free speech.,,,, that works for him, for you, and against both as well.

This is a great idea, actually. If he's going to drive you out of your home on account of the exercise of your 2nd Amendment right, you have a 1st Amendment right to make your neighbors aware of what kind of jackwagon they rent from. At least they'll know not to trust him. Then it's time to move on. Poison his well, and then leave.