Legally Speaking Answers & Questions

August 21

Q: I've been living in my apartment for almost 2 years now and I have 4 months left on my lease, but now I want out of my lease cause I don't feel safe living here. There have been a lot of break-ins and someone even got killed. There are also too many roaches and they can't get that under control. Also, the A/C keeps breaking. How do I go about getting out of my lease? – Elizabeth

A: A lease is a contract between a tenant and an apartment complex. You promise to pay a certain amount every month, and they promise to make the space available to you for a certain term, usually a year. There are only certain conditions under which you can break that contract. I'd like some more details. It's probably not a situation where you can up and break that contract, although she does need to address the issues with management and put them on notice that the fact the tenants are scared.

Q: I worked for a contractor from Kingwood. The job was in Baytown. The contractor refuses to pay me. Where do I file a civil suit at? Is it where the work was done or where the deal was made? – Joey from Cleveland

A: It depends on the amount of money involved. If he was dealing with under $5,000, he could go to a Justice of the Peace Court or what we call Small Claims Court and file it himself. If it's more than that, he needs to probably go to County Civil Court in Harris County or Civil District Court.