🚀 go-pugleaf

Reference:the original article is in tx.flame. 
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AVOID SIGNING A LEASE BY                    TEXAS APARMENT ASSOCIATION
INC.

unless you are willing to give up privacy
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To all who reponded to the original BARBARIC post:

Thank you for all your scoldings, teachings and info.
I(M) just ran down to talk to the resident manager(r) for a
confrontation, looks like my lease will not be renewed after this
semester. abstracts from the conversation:

M:"In Hawaii, the tenant must be informed before the management can
enter under normal circumstances"

r:"How long have you been here?"

M:"Several Months"

r:"This is Texas, this is the way we run things here, we have the RIGHT
to enter your apt as long as we leave a note immediately after leaving"

M:"Are you responsible for anything loss during the intrusion?"

r:"No, but we know the person who entered your apt"

M:"Then what happen if something is stolen?"

r:"We know the person who entered your apt"

M:"What about my rights to privacy?"

...

r:"Why are you so worked up over this? Are you hiding something in your
apt"
(Why am I always treated like a criminal, when all I wanted is respect
for my privacy)
[ Note to Ed Bullard:

Why don't you give everyone keys to your house? Makes me wonder what
you are hiding 
that you need such privacy? Running a drug lab, or stock-piling weapons

perhaps?

]

M:(irritated)"This is a matter of principles, and rights to privacy" 
....

M:"Someone in Texas told me I have the right to shoot any intruder"

r:(alarmed) "You better call the police to find out about that.  If you
bought a house, you have that right but this is _our_ property"(i.e. we
can do anything we like).

....

M:"How about Pest Control?"

r:"We can enter your apt to perform Pest Control during the designated
times, you know about the dates. And it is a courtesy to others...blah
blah blah"

M:"even when I am not home?"

r:"yes"

....

A note about Pest Control, in my rental unit in honolulu, there was
Pest Control every 3 months, if the tenant is not at home during time
of operation, the tenant has the choice to
          - sign a form authorizing entrance for the Pest Control
People
          - not allowed the Pest Control to enter
At least there is a gesture of respect for privacy.

Really, I think I need to buy a 'house', maybe I'll just rent a 5x5
land(that's all I can afford) and live in a tent. In this way I _have
the right_ to disallow any dogs, cats, pigs into my abode, and shoot
them if required.

The demand for rental houses may be the partial reason for the rental's
agencies arrogance as noted by Neil Laura. But isn't Hawaii worst? With
living cost 2 times that of Austin and little new construction, but
they still respect tenant's rights.

And to Scott Cattacnach who remarked about Austin's govt treatment of
residents like Shit.  I don't know, at least I know that Texas
Apartment Association, INC. treats tenants like shit. Next time I get
to sign a lease, which will be that of a UT married dorm, I sure hope I
won't see this TAA shit again.  

As for the person who remarked:"Get out if you don't like Texas".  If I
were to heed your advice, I would need to "Get out of Earth" and live
on the Moon, 'cause every place has its nice and bad things.  But
really, I did not expect supposedly the most democratic nation in the
world to still have such blatant human rights violation, when it
continuously accuses other nations of such.

I doubt if this can be changed by someone without power or money.  A
more effective route would be to build a chain of quality rental units
which advertises (in all local newspapers) specifically "We respect
your rights to privacy, rent Righteous Apts", a sub note would be
,"When you consider other leases, especially that of TAA,INC's,  note
item 28....., we don't have anything like that, instead we will
'Request your permission to enter not later than 24 hrs prior to our
entrance'.

In life, with money, even ghosts can bribed.

Sorry if this post antagonize everyone, my temper.


P.S. to Steve Tate : The worker opens my door to drop mail
packages(left at the management's office) if I am not in.  He can also
repair things when I am not at home.  In addition, Pest control comes
in to my unit every month and I must let them in. I have not reached
the Showings stage, but I will put up a huge sign to alert the
potential renters, something like "Read the lease item 28, the
management has the right to enter your apt when you are not home for
NON EMERGENCY purposes, e.g. ....Don't sign a TAA lease"


ITEM 28 in TEXAS APARTMENT ASSOCIATION INC. Apartment Lease Contract
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28. WHEN WE MAY ENTER. If you or any guest or occupant is present, then
repairers, servicers, or our representatives may peacefully enter the
apartment at reasonable times for the purposes listed in (2) below.  If
nobody is in the apartment, then repairers, servicers, or our
representatives may enter peacefully and at reasonable times by
duplicate or master key (or by breaking a window or other means if
locks have been changed in violation of this Lease Contract) If:

(1) written notice of the entry is left in a conspicuous place in the
apartment immediately after the entry; AND

(2) entry is for:responding to your request;repairs;estimating repair
or refurbishing costs; pest control; preventive maintenance; filter
changes; testing or replacing smoke-detector batteries; retrieving
unreturned tools or appliances; preventing we of utilities; exercising
contractual lien; leaving notices; delivering, installing,
reconnecting, or replacing appliances, furniture, equipment, or
security devices; removing or rekeying unauthorized security devices;
removing unauthorized window coverings; stopping excessive noise;
removing health or safety hazards (including hazardous materials) and
items prohibited under our rules; removing unauthorized pets;
retrieving property owned or leased by former residents; inspections
when immediate danger to person or property is reasonably suspected;
entry by a law-enforcement officer with search or arrest warrant or in
hot pursuit; showing apartment to prospective residents (after move-out
or vacate notice has been given); or showing apartment to government
inspectors, fire marshals, lenders, appraisers, prospective buyers, or
insurance agents.
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