Is there any kind of law (Texas) about a apartment maintenance person entering your place when you are not....

Question

......home?

I am in the military and basicaly have to live in the area, I fly and could be gone for 2 days, 2 week, 2 months at a moments notice.

I will be signing a lease tomorrow and I really dont want anyone else in there when I am not home, unless its on fire or something.

It seems to be rampant in most every place I have looked at in my area, this based on tenents testimony on line. Maintenace people have gone in and moved things or even helped themselves to tenents property. I have multiple thousands of dollars of stuff to keep safe in my new place.

Do I have to specially request this on my own drafted document before I sign or is it auomatically forced on me in lease agreement? If I ever identified the person that did that to me would be extremely sorry for doing so. This is worrysome for me.

Can I change the locks?

Please dont tell me to move. This is a serious question.

Answer 1

Git yer Texas Tenant rights rat-cheer! Step right up!

http://www.texastenant.org/rights/locks/...

Answer 2

I can tell you since I own over 200 condos, that changing the locks is a huge violation to your lease.  In the state of Iowa, a maintenance person cannot come into your apartment unless it is an emergency.  If not an emergency, they can enter with a time that you both agree on.  They can also give a 24 hours notice to enter and that is also valid.  The gray area is "Emergency".  If your place is flooding and leaking to lower level neighbor, that is an emergency.  However, since it such a gray area, you need to seriously find a good place to live where much trust is involved.  There are too many loopholes on both sides.  That is your best bet.  Good Luck!!!