Tenant speaking rental contract

[Horacio Gutierrez]

Hello,

If I have a Spanish speaking tenant that will sign my rental contract in English is it legal for me to translate the rental contract if I speak English to them or should they have there English speaking kid translate for them even if I can do it?

[Leah Slaughter]

In our state, contracts have to be done in English. However, the Texas forms are also sometimes provided in a translated version for review if/when needed. I would be very uncomfortable with you as the landlord translating the contract for them, especially in a state such as California. Our lease is here also direct tenants with any questions to contact an attorney, and I assume yours probably has something similar. I would not take on the responsibility and liability of you telling them the things they need to know from the contract. That’s a recipe for disaster.