If you have any trouble with Green Residential, REPORT THEM to the Texas Real Estate Commission…read more(TREC) https://www.trec.texas.gov/public/how-file-complaint (You can screenshot the page, copy/paste from Photos, or Google it)
Green Residential's information:
* Texas Real Estate Brokerage License #: 9001367
* Supervising Broker: Leon Green - License # 613365-B
* Supervising Broker: Harry M. Green - License # 174579-B
Texas Tenant Rights (plain English & Spanish available) https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/home-real-estate-and-travel/renters-rights (Again--screenshot, copy/paste, or Google)
Every property management company in Texas operates under a supervising licensed broker, and TREC holds them legally responsible for illegal or unethical actions. Do not let these scammy slumlords bully or exploit another innocent, hardworking tenant.
Below is only a small portion of my experience, along with how you can protect yourself.
When I moved in, the apartment was disgusting. Dead roaches everywhere. Walls so grimy they literally became four shades lighter after cleaning. The air filter was completely black. Green Residential told me this was my problem because I signed the lease accepting the unit "as is."
That is NOT what "as is" legally means.
"As is" means you accept the unit's layout and features-that it's a 1 bed/1 bath, has carpet instead of wood floors, white walls, or a wall separating rooms. It does NOT mean you accept filth, pests, or unsafe conditions.
Under Texas Tenant Rights, a unit must be "move-in ready." That includes:
* A clean apartment
* Working light bulbs
* A new air filter
Despite the unit clearly not being move-in ready, my lease required me to hire professional cleaners and submit a receipt three days BEFORE my lease ended. That forced me to move out early while still paying rent--meaning I had to pay two rents for an entire week just to comply with their ridiculous requirement.
Illegal & Unreasonable Charges
Light Bulb Charge:
They attempted to charge me for replacing a light bulb that was still working, that I never requested to be replaced, and that occurred within the first 30 days, when my lease clearly stated all maintenance is 100% landlord-covered in the first 30 days. A GR rep claimed "light bulbs are excluded" but refused to show where that exclusion existed in my lease. I didn't pay it.
Pest Control Charge:
They tried to charge me for pest control on a shared lawn with over 12 large fire ant mounds, also reported within the first 30 days. My lease explicitly stated lawn maintenance and lawn related pest control are the landlord's responsibility. I had to send them a screenshot of my own lease because they clearly didn't even have it.
Their representatives showed zero understanding of my lease or Texas tenant law. If you don't know your rights or your lease, they will absolutely try to charge you for things you don't owe or neglect issues they're legally required to fix.
Deposit Scam Tactics
Less than a week before move-out--after I had already vacated due to their cleaning clause, I received an email saying: "Do not patch any holes."
Obviously too late. Also, that's absurd. Patching small holes is standard practice. After speaking with a neighbor, I learned exactly why they do this: GR told them not to patch holes, then kept their entire deposit for "patching and painting."
That's not legal.
Texas law allows for normal wear and tear, including nail holes smaller than a dime. Tenants are not responsible for repainting unless walls were repainted a different color or suffered major damage (holes punched, smoke damage, large gouges, etc.). Even handprints on walls are explicitly listed as non-chargeable in Texas Tenant Rights.
How I Got My Deposit Back
Thankfully, I took extensive photos and videos at move-in and documented everything on my Inventory & Condition Form. Green Residential tried to keep my entire deposit, claiming they had to paint walls and repair stair damage.
I sent them my signed IACF and photos proving:
* The walls were already filthy, scratched, dented, peeling, and unpainted
* The stair damage pre-existed my tenancy
They even sent me a photo of a wall with a paint bucket in front of it, perfectly proving there was no significant damage. My deposit was also withheld past the 30-day legal deadline. Once I threatened Small Claims Court, my full deposit magically appeared.
Final Advice
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
Keep your lease and Texas Tenant Rights handy at all times when dealing with Green Residential. They cannot withhold unreasonable charges, and they must return your deposit within 30 days of lease termination.
Don't let these slumlord scam artists win. Report them. Document everything. Protect yourself and others.