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Know Your Rights In Case Of An Apartment Fire


Residents of a Northwest Austin apartment complex lost nearly everything in a massive fire in mid-December. Now, one victim says she's being forced to sign an agreement releasing the complex of liability.

She says she signed it because she needed her deposit back in order to find a new place. Now, she's having second thoughts.

We contacted the management for the International Residence Apartments, and after going through several contacts we found out their legal department had advised them not to give a statement at this time.

Under Texas law, in circumstances like this fire, tenants are under no obligation to sign a similar agreement.

"They have a right to put in a written notice that they are terminating their lease contract and they can go ahead and get their deposit back and pro-rated rent and move somewhere else," says Nekesha Phoenix, with the Austin Tenants Council.

In these situations renters can always call the Austin Tenants Council for further help.