Texas landlord entry

Do this today

• Write the date, time, who entered, and whether you were told in advance.
• Keep texts, emails, or posted notes about entry.
• If you felt unsafe, that is a safety issue as well as a tenancy issue — 911 if someone is in danger.
• Do not change locks without confirming Texas rules and the lease.

What usually depends on the reason?

Emergencies, agreed-upon repairs, and showings to buyers or new tenants are often treated differently in Texas Property Code — residential tenancies. A national “24 hours” line is a rumor, not a rule we will print. The hour-count, if Texas has one, is in the chapter.

What if it keeps happening?

Repeated unannounced entry is worth a dated log. Whether Texas treats that as a breach, a privacy violation, or something a court can stop is a legal-aid question. The log is what you take them.

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

Common questions

People also ask

• How much notice does my landlord have to give before entering?
• Can my landlord enter when I am not home?
• What counts as an emergency?
• Can I refuse entry?
• Can I put in a camera or change the locks?
• Can my landlord enter without notice in every state?