• Last week we asked readers to submit questions about what happens now, after the severe flooding following Tropical Storm Harvey. Here are their questions and the answers:

 

Q: What do I do about situation pertaining to my deposit and rent money? My landlord told me I’m still going to be charged for the days my things were in the house even though I told him about all the problems after the hurricane”

 

A: Sadly for Texas renters, landlords dictate what rent is owed. According to rentecdirect.com, a website specializing in renter issues, renters have little recourse because state law required rental payment.

“In general it is illegal to withhold rent in Texas (Texas Property Code Sec. 92.058. Landlord Remedy For Tenant Violation),” according to an article by Kaycee Wegener. “That means that even if your property was damaged and is currently uninhabitable, you will need to continue paying rent until your lease is officially terminated.”

A failure to pay rent could result in eviction or legal repercussions. However, the website goes on to report that state law also requires landlords to provide livable housing and so if the landlord demands rent on a property that is not livable, then a tenant can take the landlord to court to get the money back—but only after paying the rent.

That said, it is best to let your landlord know if your property is not habitable and ask outright for a rent reduction or reimbursement. Some landlords will work with tenants.

Rentdirect.com suggests the following:

FOR TENANTS

• Rent is still due and late fees may still apply.
• A lease may be void if the unit is uninhabitable and a comparable transfer is not available.
• Most renters insurance policies do not cover flood damage.
• Residents who abandon their apartment may lose their security deposit and be held liable for future rent.

Q: I want to know what Jefferson County plans to do about Drainage District 7 and its pump problems. Currently, there is talk of a class action suit since many homes flooded due to pump failure.

I want to know what Judge Branick has to say about the plan to fix this situation.

 

A: County Judge Jeff Branick declined to say anything publicly at this time. Branick pointed out that Drainage District Seven is its own governmental entity and not a county service.

 

Q: As a pet owner, I would like for someone to find out what happened to the animals who were taken to Ford Park and then taken by the Houston SPCA.

 

A: Julie Kuenstle with the Houston SPCA said her organization is actively seeking pet owners through an online database. She said during and after Tropical Storm Harvey her organization rescued a number of animals of all species. She said, “We have included horses too, we don’t just do dogs and cats. We have horses and guinea pigs and donkeys.”

All the lost animals rescued by the SPCA are on their website at www.houstonspca.org/adopt/harvey-rescues/. The animals are sorted through pet ID numbers.

“If they see a pet they think is theirs, call us on our main number give us the pet ID number and we can go from there.”

Kuenstle said owners need to provide proof of ownership like photos.

However, she said it’s possible a missing pet was picked up by a different agency.

“If they do not see their pet on our website we are referring them to findingrover.com,” she said. “This company has tapped into shelter resources around the country.”

Meaning, the website has animals listed in shelters across the country.

Finally, Kuenstle said anyone who would like to volunteer as a foster pet owner would be appreciated.

“If you want to help, if you want to foster we have another resource and it is fosterhurricanepet.org and it’s a neighbor to neighbor thing,” she said. “If I need a foster while I’m living in a hotel, I can put my zip code in and they can talk to each other. It’s a neighbor to neighbor platform.”

She said the website allows people to foster horses, birds and reptiles in addition to dogs and cats.

Time is running out for owners of missing pets, however. Kuenstle said at the Houston SPCA, if a pet is not picked up in 45 days, it gets sent to a new home.

 

Got questions? Email jesse.wright@panews.com