I began a journey to find the right facility for my 109 year old GOD-Aunt; not due to convenience but out of necessity. We literally ran out of money for 24 hour around the clock care. Thankfully, my...
Caring and on top of it. Someone is always checking on my mom and there for her needs. They respond promptly when alerted. Staff is always letter her know what activities are going and seeing if she wants...
I like the activities and trips very much. The staff are wonderful. My only immediate concern is that I saw a lot of people leave after only a year here when it came time to renew their lease. I heard the...
I love the small group activities at Meadowstone. We go to the Pocket Sandwich Theater and Dallas Symphony. The gardens are beautiful and I'm so close to the Jewish Community Center of Dallas. I love to...
Staff is helpful and compassionate. Facility is attractive and near our medical offices. Food is overly plentiful for me, but well prepared. We pay for two rooms, because we are a married couple. One is a...
I would rank Five Star as five in all areas except "friendliness" and I would rank them far above a five. It is a great place to live.
It’s a good place for seniors, activities & games. Newly widowed, newly divorced, need friends….. good food! But it also gives back to residence what they promised in reference to helping us. For an...
Wish they had more payment options, such as accepting credit card to earn points, or better lease terms instead of only annual, or flexible meal plans (currently being charged whether used or not). They do...
This is the most friendly community we have ever visited and the food is top tier!! They even serve lobster and steak. We had stayed for dinner and the service, just everything was 10/10. This place is truly...
They don't have everything on site like some of the other places and sometimes were a little slow to respond. Our experience with Atria exceeded our expectations. I would recommend it highly.
At Watercrest at Kingwood, I enjoy a perfect balance of luxury and independence. My residence, adorned with high-end amenities, offers a lifestyle that feels like an indulgence while providing me with the...
The management staff has been together a long time 5-10 years in some cases. Their teamwork and commitment shows in their presentation and product. I would without a question recommend Village on the Park...
So far Sunrise has been a good fit for my friend. Not perfect but so far it's working for us. My friend has made several reliable and dependable friends with staff. They periodically come to check on her and...
My loved one is currently a resident at Christian Care Communities and Services Fort Worth and the experience has been great for him. He is loving it there, it is just what he needed. Based on our...
I think Brookdale Tanglewood is very nice the staff seems friendly my concerns for my mom is the cost of the care we have to really watch her budget she is paying more than she makes in a month & I know the...
In Texas, independent living communities are not regulated by a state agency, unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care facility. This means that stand-alone independent living facilities must comply with general housing and rental standards, such as the Texas Property Code and Fair Housing Act.
Housing laws and regulations like these help ensure that residents of any rental community are not discriminated against and are provided with safe, well-maintained housing. Additionally, most Texas independent living communities have a minimum age requirement of 55, with some raising it to 62.
If an independent living community shares its building or campus with an assisted living and/or memory care unit, the area designated for senior care and any shared areas must follow Texas assisted living regulations and memory care regulations set by Texas Health and Human Services (HHS).
In Texas, stand-alone independent living communities are only required to comply with the state’s housing and apartment regulations for landlords and tenants. This means landlords must grant tenants some specific rights, provide disability accommodations, and maintain all facilities. Below, you’ll learn about your rights as a resident in an independent living rental community.
Knowing your rights as a tenant will help you find a safe and satisfactory living situation while you rent. Here’s a brief overview of some important tenants’ rights:[01]
Before attempting to terminate a lease or hiring an external contractor, it’s strongly recommended that tenants reach out to an attorney or a local tenants association for advice. Consulting a housing expert will prevent you from breaching any lease agreements, and will ultimately lead you to the end result you desire. It’s also recommended that tenants provide multiple written notices to their landlord and keep a copy of each notice as proof.[01]
If you’re seeking more information on your rights as a senior apartment tenant, be sure to read the Texas Tenants’ Rights Handbook.
In Texas, federal nondiscrimination laws — such as the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA) — protect tenants from being discriminated against due to their disability. These laws also require independent living landlords to provide reasonable accommodations and modifications in housing, programs, and activities for individuals with disabilities.
Reasonable accommodations are defined as changes to facility policies and could include the following:[02]
Modifications are structural changes to common areas and individual units, and may include:[02]
Property owners are required to pay for such modifications unless providing them would pose an undue financial or administrative burden. For more information, see this detailed infographic on reasonable accommodations and modifications for Texas renters.
For Texas residents having general issues while renting, the Texas State Law Library offers a list of resources around the state for common problems. You can also look up local rental associations, tenants’ councils, and housing programs for further assistance.
Texas Health and Human Services
4601 W. Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78751
Phone: 512-424-6500
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) performs physical inspections of rental properties to ensure they are habitable, well maintained, ready for occupancy, follow accessibility standards, and comply with applicable program rules and regulations.
The TDHCA doesn’t publicly publish statewide inspection reports, but you can try calling 512-475-3800 or emailing info@tdhca.texas.gov for more information. Many cities in Texas also have their own inspection agencies where you can look up rental inspection reports to find the most recent inspection date, score, and deficiencies found.
Texas Young Lawyers Association & State Bar of Texas. (2019). Tenants’ Rights Handbook.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2021). Reasonable accommodations and modifications.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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