Find an apartment injury lawyer in Fort Worth: landlord duties and how to claim

Fort Worth complexes with three or more units must register with the city each year and meet its safety standards. Report hazards in writing and ask for an inspection by calling 817-392-1234. You generally have 2 years to sue the landlord. Injuries in common areas are often the strongest claims.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (35)

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When is a landlord responsible if I get hurt in my Fort Worth apartment?

It depends mostly on where you got hurt. Texas law starts with a rule that surprises many renters: a landlord generally has no duty for dangerous conditions inside the unit you lease. There are important exceptions.

Where or whatWhen the landlord can be responsible
Stairs, walkways, parking, laundry, pool areaParts of the property the landlord still controls
Bad repair inside your unitThe landlord or its worker did the repair carelessly
A hidden problemThe landlord knew of a defect and concealed it
A repair you asked forThe state repair law is real, but the Texas Supreme Court said that section does not apply in a personal injury case
Missing locks or smoke alarmsTexas requires window latches, smoke alarms in each bedroom and repair of security devices

That repair statute point matters. You can still bring an injury claim under ordinary Texas law, but a lawyer needs to frame it around one of the rules above. A tenant found more than 50 percent at fault recovers nothing in Texas.

What does Fort Worth require of apartment complexes?

The city's multifamily program covers three or more units under the same roof or on one lot under one owner. Landlords must register every year. Before leasing, they must inspect each unit. Houses and duplexes are different: registration is voluntary for one- and two-family rentals with no violations, so these city rules may not reach yours.

  • Exterior lights at building entrances and at individual units.
  • Fort Worth code gives a landlord seven days to fix a broken exterior light after notice.
  • Posted signs giving a 24-hour emergency number.
  • Security gates with a manual override for outages.

A violation of these standards does not automatically mean you win. It is good evidence that the landlord knew or should have known about the danger.

How do I report a dangerous apartment in Fort Worth?

  1. Write to the manager, keep a copy, and send it by certified or tracked mail so you can prove the notice.
  2. Stay current on rent if you can. A tenant who is late on rent when notice is given can lose the repair remedy in Texas.
  3. Call the city at 817-392-1234 if you think the problem is hazardous, or if you are not sure. Call 911 for an emergency.
  4. Ask for an inspection. The city may inspect based on complaints. It can enter your unit with your consent.
  5. Look up your address on the city's One Address tool, which shows code violations. Past violations can help show the landlord knew.
  6. Take dated photos, keep your lease and save every text and email with the office.

How do I find who owns my Fort Worth apartment complex?

If your lease names only a management company, ask the manager in writing who the owner is and where to reach them. Texas gives the landlord 7 days to answer. That duty cannot be waived in your lease. Owners who live out of state must name a local agent to accept legal papers, so the city's registration file can help.

What if a public housing agency owns my Fort Worth apartment?

Fort Worth Housing Solutions owns affordable apartment communities across the city. Its main office is at 817-333-3400. We could not confirm how an injury claim would be treated at each of its properties, because some may be operated by a private partner. Find out which it is early. If a government body runs the property, written notice is generally due within six months.

Who pays when I am hurt at my Fort Worth apartment?

Usually the owner's or manager's liability insurance. Your own renters policy may help with your belongings, but do not count on it for your injuries. Ask the office for its insurer's name in writing. If someone else caused the harm, such as a guest or a contractor, their insurance may also apply.

If you were badly hurt, JPS and Texas Health Harris Methodist are Fort Worth's Level I trauma centers. JPS takes records requests through MyChart or by fax to 817-702-5700. Keep every bill, even if your insurer pays it.

What should I ask an apartment injury lawyer in Fort Worth?

  • Was this a part of the property my landlord controlled?
  • How do we prove the landlord knew?
  • Should I ask the city for an inspection before anything is repaired?
  • Who owns the building and who insures it?

Questions

Can I sue my apartment complex for a fall in Fort Worth?

If it happened in an area the landlord controls, possibly yes. You generally have 2 years.

How do I complain about my apartment to the City of Fort Worth?

Call 817-392-1234. Inspectors may act on complaints.

Is my landlord responsible for broken stairs inside my unit?

Only in limited cases, such as a bad repair or a hidden defect the landlord knew about.

How long does a Fort Worth landlord have to fix an outdoor light?

No more than seven days after being told.

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Sources (35)

  1. City of Fort Worth, Multifamily Inspection and Registration Program, checked 2026-11-09. “three or more units under the same roof (triplexes); three or more on one lot under the same ownership”
  2. Fort Worth City Code § 7-401, checked 2026-11-09. “The landlord of a multifamily dwelling complex shall annually register the complex with the director.”
  3. City of Fort Worth, Code Compliance Online Reporting, checked 2026-11-09. “uncertain whether the problem may be hazardous, please call 817-392-1234”
  4. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  5. Texas Supreme Court, Johnson County Sheriff's Posse v. Endsley (1996), checked 2026-11-09. “a lessor may be liable for injuries caused by a defect on a portion of premises that remain under the lessor's control”
  6. Texas Property Code 92.056, checked 2026-11-09. “by certified mail, return receipt requested, by registered mail, or by another form of mail that allows tracking of delivery”
  7. Fort Worth City Code § 7-410(c), checked 2026-11-09. “In no instance shall a reasonable period of time be deemed to mean more than seven days.”
  8. Texas Property Code 92.201, checked 2026-11-09. “on or before the seventh day after the day the landlord receives the tenant's request for the information”
  9. Fort Worth City Code § 7-403, checked 2026-11-09. “Inspections based on indications of code violations, including complaints filed with the director”
  10. Fort Worth City Code § 7-403, checked 2026-11-09. “Occupied dwelling units upon the consent of the tenant or when subject to a valid warrant issued by the court.”
  11. Texas Supreme Court, Johnson County Sheriff's Posse v. Endsley (1996), checked 2026-11-09. “A lessor generally has no duty to tenants or their invitees for dangerous conditions on the leased premises.”
  12. Texas Supreme Court, Johnson County Sheriff's Posse v. Endsley (1996), checked 2026-11-09. “a lessor who makes repairs may be liable for injuries resulting from the lessor's negligence in making the repairs”
  13. Texas Supreme Court, Johnson County Sheriff's Posse v. Endsley (1996), checked 2026-11-09. “A lessor who conceals defects on the leased premises of which the lessor is aware may also be liable.”
  14. Texas Property Code 92.052, checked 2026-11-09. “A landlord shall make a diligent effort to repair or remedy a condition if”
  15. Texas Supreme Court, Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain (1998), checked 2026-11-09. “it does not apply in a personal injury case”
  16. Texas Property Code 92.153, checked 2026-11-09. “a window latch on each exterior window of the dwelling”
  17. Texas Property Code 92.255, checked 2026-11-09. “A landlord shall install at least one smoke alarm in each separate bedroom in a dwelling unit.”
  18. Texas Property Code 92.158, checked 2026-11-09. “a landlord shall repair or replace a security device on request or notification by the tenant”
  19. Texas Property Code 92.061, checked 2026-11-09. “any right a landlord or tenant may have to bring an action for personal injury or property damage under the law of this state”
  20. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
  21. Fort Worth City Code § 7-404, checked 2026-11-09. “The landlord of a multifamily dwelling complex shall inspect each dwelling unit prior to leasing”
  22. City of Fort Worth, Rental Registration, checked 2026-11-09. “Registration is voluntary for one- and two-family rentals with no violations”
  23. Fort Worth City Code § 7-410(c), checked 2026-11-09. “Exterior illumination shall be provided at appropriate points adjacent to all building entrances, including individual dwelling units.”
  24. Fort Worth City Code § 7-410(a), checked 2026-11-09. “a telephone number where said employees can be contacted during any 24-hour period”
  25. Fort Worth City Code § 7-410(e), checked 2026-11-09. “All security gates shall be equipped with a manual override to be used in the event of a power outage or system failure.”
  26. Texas Property Code 92.056, checked 2026-11-09. “the tenant was not delinquent in the payment of rent at the time any notice required by this subsection was given”
  27. Fort Worth Police, Crime Data Center, checked 2026-11-09. “One Address allows you to enter one address and view a variety of data, including crime information, permits, code violations, and other city information.”
  28. Texas Property Code 92.006, checked 2026-11-09. “security devices, the landlord's disclosure of ownership and management, or utility cutoffs”
  29. City of Fort Worth, Multifamily Inspection and Registration Program, checked 2026-11-09. “Requires out of state property owners to designate a local agent to accept legal service”
  30. Fort Worth Housing Solutions, Housing Assistance Options, checked 2026-11-09. “FWHS owns numerous quality, affordable apartment communities across the City of Fort Worth.”
  31. Fort Worth Housing Solutions, Contact, checked 2026-11-09. “817-333-3400”
  32. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  33. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL 11/1/2028 E FORT WORTH 76104”
  34. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “TEXAS HEALTH HARRIS METHODIST HOSPITAL FORT WORTH 1/1/2029 E FORT WORTH 76104”
  35. JPS Health Network, Patient Records, checked 2026-11-08. “You can fax a written request to 817-702-5700.”

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