956-428-5072

Serving to unify rental housing professionals through education,
legislative advocacy and member services since 1974.
Oak Terrace Apartments
What the Association does for renters

RGVAA, through our TAA Education Foundation, offers Renting 101, a program to better educate renters about their rights and responsibilities. Go to www.TAA.org.

  • We communicate regularly with our members about changes in the laws and regulations that affect property, and provide resources and assistance to enable our members to operate effectively and ethically.

  • RGVAA has been a proponent of legislation that has increased habitability and security statutes that affect residents of rental housing. Legislation supported by RGVAA has set the standard for security devices (and other items) required in residential rental housing. Texas laws are among the nation's toughest for security devices and for return of security deposits.

  • We've also supported uniform statewide fencing requirements for pool yards at rental properties to help improve pool safety and reduce the likelihood of accidental drowning.

If you have a problem:
Unfortunately, we are not able to personally answer your questions or reply to inquiries about specific situations. We're not qualified to give you legal advice.

If you need legal help for a particular problem you're having, we encourage you to check with an attorney or look for legal resources in your area that can assist you. If you have general questions, or need some basic guidance:
  • Read TAA's Resident, Rental Housing and Texas Law brochure. You may obtain a copy of this brochure by contacting the RGVAA office by mail: P.O. Box 3299, Harlingen, TX 78551; Fax (956) 412-7191; Telephone (956) 428-5072; or e-mail to: rgvaachristina@aol.com. Your name, mailing address and telephone number must be provided.

Before you rent:
Whether you are renting your first place of your own, moving to a new city or area, or just need a change of scenery, one of the most important decisions you'll make is where you'll live.

If you are renting, you will most likely sign a lease, which is a legal obligation to live someplace a certain length of time (usually six months or a year). There are very few exceptions in which a lease may be broken. Therefore, your rental home should be chosen with great care.

When you're looking to rent:
  • Figure out your budget, and what you can afford. Don't forget that you may need to pay for other items not included in your rent. Many properties will not approve you as a resident if you want to spend more than a third of your gross income on the rent.

  • Check out your credit record with a report from a consumer reporting agency (credit bureau files may contain problems or other mistakes on your record). Be sure these items are cleared before you fill out a rental application.

  • If you are under 18, a student, or you don't have enough income to qualify to pay the rent, you may be asked to secure a "guarantor." A guarantor is usually a parent, relative or employer who will pay your rent if you do not. The guarantor is not someone who will live with you.