Austin Housing

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Tenant Stabilization and Renter Rights

Renter Rights

These rights apply to all City-funded Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) properties.

  • Right to Organize

    You have the right to organize a tenants’ association.

  • Right to Notice

    You have the right to talk with your property manager about a lease termination notice or non-renewal.

  • Right to Privacy

    You have the right to 24 hours’ notice before unit entry, unless there is an emergency.

  • Right to Repairs

    You have the right to decent conditions and to repairs to address hazardous conditions.

  • Right to Access Your Tenant File

    You have the right to access your tenant file, including a copy of your lease, lease addendum, payment records, and anything you signed.

  • Property Manager Rights

    Property managers can evict you for nonpayment of rent, serious or repeated lease violations, or engaging in violent criminal activity.

    If you are not being evicted for criminal activity, you may have the right to fix any lease violation before termination takes effect.

Left image shows a two-story building that houses the management offices for Sunday Village. The building exterior features brown stone and light grey vinyl siding.

Tenant Stabilization Resources

These resources are available to low‑income tenants and homeowners in Austin and focus on eviction prevention, fair housing rights, and how to get help if discrimination or eviction occurs.

Austin Tenants Council Project

The Austin Tenants Council is a special project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. The project focuses on housing discrimination, tenant-landlord education and information, and housing repair and rehabilitation.

They offer counseling to help tenants prepare for and understand the eviction process, including reviewing notices a tenant has received and assisting with mediation and court preparation, if necessary. 

Legal Services & Representation for Low-Income Tenants

The City of Austin has partnered with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to provide emergency eviction counseling, representation, and prevention services for low-income renters.

Legal assistance for low-income households is also available through Volunteer Legal Services and Texas Legal Services Center.

Fair Housing Rights

Fair housing is a federally mandated right that prohibits discrimination in housing choice.

The Federal Fair Housing Act (Web) protects anyone from being limited in their housing choice based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender/sex, familial status, and disability.

The City of Austin Fair Housing Ordinance protects individuals in all categories of the Federal Fair Housing Act, including additional factors like sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, student status, and age.

The Federal Fair Housing Act also prohibits discrimination in mortgage lending. It is illegal to:

  • Refuse to make a mortgage loan or provide loan information
  • Impose different loan terms, such as interest rates or fees
  • Discriminate in property appraisals
  • Refuse to purchase a loan or apply different conditions for loan purchases

How to File a Housing Discrimination Complaint

Visit Austin Equity and Inclusion's Civil Rights Division or call 512-974-3251 for more information on how the city enforces Austin's Fair Housing Ordinance and investigates housing discrimination complaints. You may also file a complaint about housing discrimination here.

Related Resources