Do this today
- Keep move-in and move-out photos, dated, of every room and the condition of walls, floors, appliances, and keys.
- Keep the lease, the receipt for the deposit, and a record of how keys were returned.
- Give a forwarding address in writing.
- List each disputed deduction in one sentence with the reason.
What usually has to be proven?
A deposit dispute in Texas is a records problem first. What was paid, what was deducted, what the unit looked like at both ends, and whether keys were returned as the lease required. Texas Property Code — residential tenancies is the chapter to open for caps, timing, and itemization — not a national chart.
Should I send a demand letter?
A calm, dated letter that lists each deduction and a way to reach you is something any renter can write. Send it in a way you can prove. Small-claims court exists in Texas; whether it is worth filing, and what the court can order, is a question for legal aid or the court's own self-help materials.
The Texas chapter
Texas Property Code — residential tenancies (Tex. Prop. Code ch. 92) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Texas puts most residential tenancy rules in Chapter 92 of the Property Code, and the Attorney General publishes a renter's rights page. Texas is a state where the written lease carries a lot of weight, so read yours alongside the statute.
Texas cities generally operate under state law for tenancy rules, but local code-enforcement and health departments handle housing-condition complaints and their processes differ by city.
Official sources
- StatuteTexas Property Code, Chapter 92 — Residential TenanciesTexas Constitution and Statutes, the Legislature's official publisher.
- State agencyTexas Attorney General — Renter's RightsState consumer-protection guidance for renters.
- Free legal helpTexasLawHelp — House & ApartmentStatewide legal-aid guides and court forms for Texas tenants.
- Statute indexCornell LII landlord-tenant tableTex. Prop. Code ch. 92
- FederalHUD — Texas
- Free legal helpLawHelp.org — Texas
Common questions
Is there a national cap on security deposits in Texas?
No. Any cap, any itemization rule, and any return deadline for Texas live in Texas Property Code — residential tenancies — sometimes in a city rule too. This site does not reprint them.
Can my landlord in Texas keep the deposit for normal wear?
Ordinary wear and damage are different ideas in most states. What counts as each is a Texas and facts question. Photos from move-in and move-out are what make that argument possible.
Where do I confirm the Texas deposit rule?
Open Texas Property Code — residential tenancies, or take the file to legal aid. A city housing department may add rules the state does not.
The national security deposit guide has the full sequence. Open the security deposit guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org