Texas Security Deposit Laws
Texas law does not limit the amount of security deposit a landlord can charge, but requires: (1) Deposits held in trust or non-interest-bearing account, (2) Return of deposits within 30 days (with itemized statement of deductions), (3) Deductions only for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear-and-tear, and cleaning costs. Landlords can only deduct for "reasonable" cleaning and repairs. If you dispute deductions, you can sue in small claims court. Unlike California, Texas does not limit deposit amounts, so negotiate deposits carefully upfront.
Habitability Standards
Texas Property Code § 92.001 requires rental units to meet minimum habitability standards: safe, weatherproof structure; working plumbing; adequate hot water; working electrical systems; safe heating/cooling; working windows and doors. If habitability violations exist, tenants can: (1) Notify landlord and give reasonable time to repair, (2) Repair-and-deduct (make repairs yourself and deduct from rent, up to one month's rent), (3) Break the lease without penalty. Landlords cannot charge for repairs required to meet habitability standards.
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SaferLease provides AI-powered informational analysis and is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.