Help and resources for apartment renters in Greater Fort Worth
Renting in Greater Fort Worth means dealing with landlords, property managers, and sometimes disputes that need outside help. Below is a curated list of real government agencies, trade associations, and legal aid groups that renters and apartment residents in the area can actually turn to. Each one plays a different role, from enforcing fair housing law to connecting tenants with attorneys.
"Government & regulatory
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Federal agency that enforces the Fair Housing Act, handles housing discrimination complaints, and offers housing counseling resources for renters. Complaints outside Fort Worth city limits can be filed online or by phone.
Visit website → Phone: 1-800-669-9777 -
Fort Worth Human Relations Commission
City-level body that handles fair housing complaints for properties within Fort Worth city limits, investigating and mediating cases and forwarding them to HUD for federal enforcement when necessary.
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Texas Workforce Commission - Civil Rights Division
State agency that accepts housing discrimination complaints from people who believe they were discriminated against while trying to buy, finance, or rent a home or apartment in Texas, within one year of the alleged harm.
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City of Fort Worth Code Compliance Department - Rental Property / Renter's Rights Program
Municipal department that informs renters what they are agreeing to and what rights they have when renting property in Fort Worth.
Industry & professional associations
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Texas Apartment Association (TAA)
State trade association for the rental housing industry with almost 12,000 member companies responsible for more than 2.2 million rental homes in Texas. Its renter section offers a Tenants' Rights Handbook and access to rental payment support programs, and it is affiliated with the National Apartment Association and local associations in 24 Texas cities.
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Fort Worth Apartment Association (FWAA)
Local trade association, established in 1967, for apartment owners, property managers, and vendor partners across a nine-county North-Central Texas region including Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, and Wise counties. It can route renter complaints to member communities and is closely aligned with the Texas Apartment Association and National Apartment Association.
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National Apartment Association (NAA)
National trade federation for the apartment industry and parent body to state and local affiliates like TAA and FWAA, publishing fair housing and renter-related resources. Its local Tarrant County affiliate is the Apartment Association of Tarrant County.
Visit website → Phone: 817-616-0356
Consumer protection
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Office of the Attorney General of Texas - Consumer Protection Division
State office that accepts consumer complaints, files civil cases in the public interest, and educates Texans on spotting scams. It maintains a Renter's Rights page covering repairs, retaliation, and security deposits, and notes it is illegal for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for a good-faith repair complaint for six months after the complaint.
Legal help
This is general information, not legal advice. Speak to a qualified professional about your specific situation.
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Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT)
Nonprofit legal aid organization serving Fort Worth and Tarrant County, providing legal advice and sometimes representation to low-income clients on landlord/tenant and property issues, family law, consumer law, public benefits, and housing discrimination cases. It does not handle criminal cases, traffic tickets, or personal injury cases.
Need a provider rather than a resource? Find Your Next Apartment.