Texas Disability Law - Housing

Texas Law

• Provides protection against discrimination in housing, rental, and sale, based on mental or physical disability.
• Requires owners to permit a person with a disability to make a reasonable modification at their own expense.
• Requires property owners to make reasonable modifications to policies, rules, practices and services that allow a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.
• Requires basic access of multi-family dwellings (apartments) built after March 13, 1991 with
  • four or more units if the building has an elevator; or
  • four or more units without an elevator (ground floor units to be accessible).
• Requires that single-family "affordable" housing constructed with State or federal funds comply with basic accessibility features.
• Requires disclosure by a home seller of previous manufacture of methamphetamine in the home.
• Provides that a purchaser of a one to two family dwelling may require the seller to install smoke detectors for persons with hearing impairments under certain circumstances.

Texas Legal Citation

• Texas Fair Housing Act (single-family):
  Texas Property Code, Chapter 301
• Texas Fair Housing Act (Subsidized Housing):
  Local Government Code, Section 392.006
• Accessibility Features in Single-Family Affordable Housing:
  Texas Government Code, Section 2306.514
• Methamphetamine Manufacture
  Texas Property Code, Seciton 5.008(b)
• Smoke detectors
  Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 766.0021

Contact

• Texas Workforce Commission, Housing Discrimination
  (888) 452-4778
  
• Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
  (512) 475-3800, (800)525-0657
  

For More Information

• Texas Workforce Commission
  (888) 452-4778, TDD (800) 735-2989

Relevant Federal Laws

• Fair Housing Act of 1988:
  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  (800)669-9777, (800) 927-9275 TTY
  Fair Housing FAQ
  
• Reasonable Accommodations under the Fair Housing Act
• Housing Act of 1949:
  U.S. Department of Agriculture
  Rural Housing Service
  (254) 742-9760
  

• National Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse

Local Ordinances

Some local governments have accessibility features in the building code, assistance in home-buying, housing rehabilitation, and other areas. Call your local mayor's or county judge's office for more information.