[colotexas]

I live outside of dallas. I have lived in this apartment for 5 yrs no problems. I received a notice that the apts were installing cable and that everyone would be required to pay for it and it would be included in rent. Next notice said that if you haven't signed up for their cable that what you are already using would be cancelled and you would have to pay for the apts cable. Went to office and explained that I don't have cable and don't want it in any form and wasn't willing to pay for it either. My lease is up the 5th of Sept. Can they force me to sign up for this and what can I do about this? Help soon is appreciated!!

[Fr_Chuck]

If your lease is up in Sept, they can include that in the new lease, and give you the option of take it or move.

They can not make you pay for it, prior to the new lease. ** Unless there is terms in the lease allowing for this.

[ScottGem]

I would check the links to Texas law at the top of this forum, but if they make some improvements to the building and they treat all tenants equally, then they may be able to charge it.

[rockinmommy]

I don't believe they can force you to "pay for cable", but with the proper notice (probably 30 days - see your lease) they can raise your rent and have the property come with cable.

If you were in the middle of your lease you'd probably have a right to refuse, but since your lease is up on 9-4, as long as they notified you of the change by 8-4 they've fulfilled their obligation. Have you made arrangements to renew your lease? Does it automatically become month-to-month if you don't renew?

If you decide not to stay because of this, or for whatever reason, you're still obligated to give them notice (whatever the lease specifies) of your intent to vacate. If you haven't done so already, make sure you get that into them ASAP. Just because your lease is up doesn't mean you don't have to give notice.

Personally, as a landlord, it wouldn't be worth it to me to loose a good, long-term tenant over this issue. I'd try to make some kind of deal with you.

What they've likely done is contracted with the cable company for a package deal. I'd be curious to know how much they're upping the rent to cover the new, "included" cable service. I own two small apt. complexes next door to each other and we can add "included" cable for under $20 per unit per month. I'm sure with larger complexes it's an even lower per unit cost. The cable company we've been talking to bills this as a way for us to actually make money. We can pay them the $20 per unit, increase the tenant's rent by $30 - $35 (or more), and it still saves the tenants a ton of $$. They'll pay only $30 - $35 for what they're now paying $75 - $100 for. (Cable and High Speed Internet in our case.)

Good luck.
Karla in TX