residential-lease texas
Is it legal for an apartment complex to have me sign a lease and never discuss the fact they do quarterly inspections?
<p>So I just moved in to an apartment complex, I have historically always rented from private persons and they usually have been houses, but I was new to the Austin, TX area and needed to get my family established.</p>

<p>So we just signed a lease with them 3 weeks ago and to my surprise I get a notice about tomorrow we are doing quarterly inspections. I felt like I was in a movie about guards tossing the cells.</p>

<p>There was no discussion about this, during the signing of the lease and if they snuck it in the lease I would be surprised because I did read through the lease.</p>

<p>I do not feel comfortable about somebody coming to my home to do an "inspection". What is this all about as I am new to this state? Honestly, unless they got a warrant I don't want anybody walking in my home. What is a general rule of thumb here, since my understanding is my relationship begins and ends with this document called a lease. If its not in there, I don't have to oblige.</p>

<p>This is the response I got from management:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The purpose of quarterly inspections is to show that we are
  maintaining standard upkeep of your home. It is industry standard so
  as to ensure (and to show record of) the proper condition, of your
  HVAC unit, smoke detectors, water heater, balcony and fire
  extinguisher. The inspection should take no longer than a couple of
  minutes. We upload and keep an electronic record that all units were
  inspected during each quarterly inspection. I have attached a
  preventative maintenance form so you can better understand what we are
  inspecting (this is the form we use during our inspections). I hope
  this sheds some light on this process.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In Texas, if the lease states that the landlord can inter for some purpose, the landlord can enter for that purpose. I assume there is no statement in the lease. Then the landlord has no right to enter <a href="https://www.depts.ttu.edu/sls/forms/Tenants-Rights-Handbook.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">except in emergencies and for routine inspections or repair</a>. This right, however, stems from the courts and not statutes, and you could theoretically sue the landlord to prevent such an inspection (you would need a good attorney, to overcome the presumption that reasonable routine inspections with notice are allowed).</p>
