Help and resources for Dallas apartment renters
If a lease dispute, repair issue, or discrimination complaint has you looking for somewhere to turn, it helps to know which agencies actually handle what. Below is a short list of real federal, state, and local organizations that deal with rental housing in Texas and the Dallas area, from the regulators who take formal complaints to the trade groups and legal aid nonprofits that can point renters in the right direction.
Government & regulatory
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Federal agency that enforces the Fair Housing Act and handles housing discrimination complaints, and also oversees HUD-assisted housing programs.
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Texas Workforce Commission - Civil Rights Division
State agency responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing Act in Texas and investigating housing discrimination complaints; renters have one year after an alleged violation to file.
Visit website → Phone: (888) 452-4778 or (512) 463-2642, TTY: 512-371-7473 1117 Trinity Street, Room 144-T, Austin, Texas 78701 -
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
State agency handling affordable and subsidized housing programs, rental assistance, and complaints about TDHCA-funded properties.
Visit website → Phone: (512) 475-3800 or toll free (800) 525-0657
Industry & professional associations
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Texas Apartment Association (TAA)
Statewide trade association for the rental housing industry, offering lease forms, renter FAQs, and links to local affiliate associations.
Visit website → 1011 San Jacinto Blvd., Ste. 600, Austin, Texas 78701 -
Apartment Association of Greater Dallas (AAGD)
Local trade association representing apartment owners and management companies across the Greater Dallas area; it does not regulate or investigate member business practices but forwards resident complaint forms to the relevant property owner or manager if that company is a member. It is the local affiliate of the Texas Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association, covering more than 180 municipalities across eleven counties around Dallas.
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National Apartment Association (NAA)
National trade association for the apartment and rental housing industry; TAA and AAGD are its state and local affiliates.
Consumer protection
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Federal agency that takes consumer complaints about landlords, debt collectors, and tenant background-check or screening companies, and addresses unfair or deceptive rental practices.
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