Texas Lease Termination Laws: Landlord & Tenant Guide
Month-to-Month Notice · Fixed-Term Non-Renewal · Holdover Rules · Automatic Renewal
Ending a lease in Texas — whether a month-to-month tenancy, a fixed-term that has run its course, or a tenancy the landlord wants to terminate — requires the right notice period, provable delivery, and documented procedure. Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 supplies the default notice period for a monthly tenancy — one month — and yields entirely to an instrument signed by both parties that sets a different period or provides that no notice is required. This guide explains the mechanics for both landlords and tenants, with practical examples, common pitfalls, and a compliance checklist.
Texas Lease Termination at a Glance
M2M Notice
one month
Fixed-Term
No statutory notice (ends on stated date; lease may require notice)
Just Cause
Not required
Court
Justice of the Peace Court
The Texas Lease Termination Framework
Texas lease law recognizes several tenancy types, and each has its own termination procedure. Understanding which category applies is the first step to a lawful, defensible termination.
Tenancy Types Recognized in Texas
Fixed-term tenancy. A lease with a definite start and end date — for example, a 12-month lease running January 1 through December 31. The tenancy ends automatically on the last day of the term unless the lease contains an auto-renewal clause or the parties sign a new agreement.
Month-to-month tenancy. A periodic tenancy that renews each month until either party gives proper notice. This is the most common arrangement after a fixed-term lease expires without renewal. In Texas a month-to-month tenancy is ended by giving notice of termination to the other party. Section 91.001 prescribes no form and does not itself require writing, but writing is the only defensible practice. Where rent is paid monthly, the tenancy ends on the later of the day stated in the notice or one month after the day the notice is given.
Week-to-week or at-will tenancy. Less common; these follow the same principles as month-to-month but with shorter notice windows aligned to the rental period.
Holdover tenancy. Arises when a tenant remains in possession after the lease ends without a new agreement. Texas holdover tenants are liable for rent through the end of the holdover period plus any damages the landlord incurs, and the landlord must file an eviction suit in Justice of the Peace Court.
Governing Texas Statute
The primary statute governing Texas lease termination is Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. It sets a default notice period and nothing more. It prescribes no form, no writing requirement and no delivery method — and under § 91.001(e)(1) subsections (a) through (d) do not apply at all where the landlord and tenant have agreed, in an instrument signed by both parties, on a different period of notice or that no notice is required. A signed lease may therefore lengthen the period, shorten it, or dispense with notice entirely.
Key Principle: Give the Notice the Tenancy Actually Requires
In Texas a landlord must give the full notice the tenancy requires — the § 91.001 default of one month, or whatever period an instrument signed by both parties substitutes for it, including none. Section 91.001 prescribes no form and no delivery method, so put the notice in writing and keep proof of delivery for evidentiary reasons rather than statutory ones. Self-help measures (changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities) are unlawful regardless of the tenancy type.
Takeaway
The tenancy type determines the termination procedure. In Texas, identify whether the tenancy is fixed-term, month-to-month, or holdover before drafting any notice. Using the wrong procedure — counting thirty days when § 91.001 measures one calendar month, or ignoring a longer period the signed lease sets — invalidates the termination and starts the clock over.
Month-to-Month Termination in Texas
Month-to-month tenancies are the most commonly terminated tenancy type in Texas. They renew automatically each month until either party gives written notice of termination.
Notice Period in Texas
To end a month-to-month tenancy in Texas, the terminating party gives notice of termination under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. The default period is one month; the statute prescribes no form and does not require writing, and under § 91.001(e)(1) an instrument signed by both parties may set a different period or provide that no notice is required. The notice should specify the termination date, and the period runs from the day on which the notice is given — not from the date it is written or mailed.
When Does the Notice Period Begin?
Section 91.001(b) measures one calendar month from the day on which the notice is given, not thirty days. A notice given on the 5th of the month therefore supports a termination date on or after the 5th of the following month. Many landlords add a few days of buffer to avoid off-by-one disputes.
Some Texas leases align termination with the end of a rent period. If the lease requires notice to end on the last day of a month, a notice delivered mid-month may not take effect until the end of the following month. Read the lease language carefully.
Put the Notice in Writing — Practice, Not Statute
Section 91.001 imposes no writing requirement, so an oral notice can in principle end a Texas month-to-month tenancy. It is still a bad idea: the statute runs the clock from the day the notice is given, and an oral notice leaves nothing to prove that date. A defensible termination notice includes:
- The rental property address
- The names of all tenants on the lease
- The specific termination date (the last day of tenancy)
- A statement that the tenancy is terminated
- The date the notice is issued
- The landlord’s or tenant’s signature
Delivery Methods
Section 91.001 prescribes no delivery method, so the choice is purely evidentiary. These methods are listed from most to least defensible:
| Method | Use When | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Personal delivery | Tenant is accessible | Dated delivery receipt signed by tenant |
| Certified mail, return receipt | Tenant may dispute receipt | USPS tracking + green card |
| Posted + mailed | Tenant is absent | Photo of posting + mail receipt |
| Process server | Contentious cases | Server’s affidavit |
Counting the Month Correctly
Section 91.001(b) measures one calendar month after the day on which the notice is given — not thirty days. Give notice on April 5 and the tenancy terminates no earlier than May 5; give it on January 31 and the month runs into the end of February, which a fixed thirty-day count would get wrong. Send notices a few days early to build in a safety margin against calendar disputes.
Takeaway
In Texas a month-to-month tenancy ends under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 on the later of the day stated in the notice or one month after the day the notice is given — unless an instrument signed by both parties sets a different period or provides that no notice is required. The statute prescribes no form and no delivery method, so use certified mail or personal delivery with a signed receipt to prove the date the month started. Keep a copy of the notice and all proof-of-service records.
Fixed-Term Lease Non-Renewal in Texas
A fixed-term lease in Texas — typically a one-year agreement — ends on the date specified in the contract. The end date itself is the termination, and no separate notice is always required. However, Texas practice and many leases add notice requirements for non-renewal.
Does a Fixed-Term Lease Require Non-Renewal Notice?
Section 91.001 governs monthly and month-to-month tenancies, not fixed terms. The rule for fixed-term non-renewal in Texas is: No statutory notice (the lease ends on its own stated date; the lease may require notice). Even where the statute does not mandate notice, the lease itself often requires 30 to 60 days’ written notice if either party does not intend to renew. Failing to give contractual notice can create a presumption that the tenancy continues month-to-month on the same terms.
Just-Cause Considerations
Just-cause status in Texas: Not required.
Where just-cause is not required, a Texas landlord may decline to renew a fixed-term lease at its end date without stating a reason, provided the non-renewal is not discriminatory (violating the Fair Housing Act) or retaliatory (punishing the tenant for exercising a protected right).
Texas has no just-cause statute at all. In the states that do have one, a landlord must identify a statutory ground for non-renewal — substantial lease violations, owner move-in, removal of the unit from the rental market, or other enumerated reasons — and provide supporting documentation. None of that applies to a Texas tenancy: a Texas landlord need give no reason.
What Happens at the End Date?
If the tenant vacates on or before the end date, the tenancy terminates automatically. The landlord conducts a move-out inspection, returns the security deposit (minus lawful deductions), and the relationship ends.
If the tenant remains after the end date without a new agreement, a holdover tenancy arises. The landlord must then follow Texas holdover procedures — which require a separate written notice to vacate under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005 — at least three days unless the parties contracted for a shorter or longer period in a written lease — and then a forcible-detainer (eviction) filing in the Justice of the Peace Court. Texas does not use the term "unlawful detainer"; that is California’s vocabulary.
Tenant’s Notice of Non-Renewal
A tenant who intends not to renew should provide written notice per the lease, even if the statute does not strictly require it. Doing so prevents auto-renewal clauses from triggering and provides documentation that the tenant gave proper notice — useful for any future security-deposit dispute.
Discrimination and Retaliation Prohibited
Even where just-cause is not required in Texas, a non-renewal cannot be based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or other protected characteristics under the Fair Housing Act. A non-renewal shortly after a tenant files a habitability complaint or requests a repair may support a retaliation claim.
Takeaway
In Texas, a fixed-term lease ends on its stated date. Notice rule for non-renewal: No statutory notice (ends on stated date; lease may require notice). Even when statute is silent, honor the lease’s notice clause and document the reason (or lack of discriminatory reason) for non-renewal to prevent retaliation and Fair Housing claims.
Handling Holdover Tenants in Texas
A holdover tenant is someone who remains in the rental unit after their lease has ended, without a new written agreement. In Texas, holdovers create legal exposure for both parties and must be addressed through formal procedure.
What Counts as a Holdover in Texas?
A tenant becomes a holdover when:
- The fixed-term lease has expired, and
- No new lease or renewal has been signed, and
- The tenant continues to occupy the unit
A tenant who continues paying rent that the landlord accepts may transition to a month-to-month tenancy by operation of law — depending on the lease language and Texas precedent. Landlords should be intentional about accepting or refusing post-term rent.
Texas Holdover Consequences
Texas holdover tenants are liable for rent through the end of the holdover period plus any damages the landlord incurs, and the landlord must file an eviction suit in Justice of the Peace Court. The specific penalties depend on the circumstances — whether the landlord accepts rent, whether a holdover clause exists in the lease, and whether the landlord promptly initiates eviction.
Landlord Options for Holdover
✓ Option 1: Accept as Month-to-Month
- Accept rent and treat as new month-to-month tenancy
- Must then provide full one month notice to later terminate
- Lowest friction but commits the landlord to the full notice period
✕ Option 2: Evict as Holdover
- Refuse rent; serve notice to quit
- File for possession in the Justice of the Peace Court
- Longer and costlier but clears the unit
Tenant Exposure
A Texas tenant who holds over faces potential liability for:
- Daily use-and-occupancy charges at market rent
- Penalty rent (often double or treble under holdover clauses)
- The landlord’s actual damages from not re-leasing
- Court costs and (if the lease provides) attorney fees
Automatic Renewal Clauses
Many Texas leases include automatic renewal clauses that convert a fixed-term lease to a new fixed term (often another 12 months) unless one party gives notice of non-renewal. These are enforced as ordinary contract terms. No provision of the Texas Property Code governs automatic renewal of a residential lease — Chapter 91 contains only Sections 91.001, 91.003, 91.004, 91.005 and 91.006, none of which addresses renewal — and Texas imposes no statutory disclosure, reminder or opt-out requirement for such a clause. What controls is the clause the parties signed.
Tenants should calendar the auto-renewal cutoff date and send written non-renewal notice well before it. Landlords should send a reminder of the renewal date as a courtesy and to head off “I never got notice” disputes.
Takeaway
Texas holdover tenants face significant financial exposure and landlords have two clear paths: accept as a new month-to-month tenancy or file for possession in the Justice of the Peace Court. Don’t let a holdover drift — address it within the first rent period to preserve all landlord options.
Texas Notice & Delivery Procedures
Section 91.001 prescribes no delivery method for a termination notice, so a termination fails on delivery only where the landlord cannot prove the notice was given, or where an instrument signed by both parties sets its own method. Document everything. The separate notice to vacate that must precede an eviction does have a statutory delivery list — Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005(f-3) — and the two must not be confused.
What Must Be in a Termination Notice?
A compliant Texas termination notice contains:
- Property address — exact street, unit number, city, ZIP
- Tenant names — all tenants on the lease
- Landlord/agent identification — name, address, phone
- Statement of termination — “Your tenancy is terminated effective [date]”
- Termination date — the last day of tenancy
- Legal basis — citation to Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 or lease provision
- Delivery date — when the notice was issued
- Signature — original signature of landlord or authorized agent
How to Deliver the Notice in Texas
Personal Delivery
Hand the notice directly to the tenant. Ask the tenant to sign and date an acknowledgment copy. This is the gold standard for Texas courts because delivery is unambiguous.
Substitute Service
If the tenant is absent but another adult answers the door, leaving the notice and mailing a copy is a common practice for a § 91.001 termination notice, which carries no statutory service rules at all. Do not carry that practice across to a § 24.005 notice to vacate: since 1 January 2026 that section’s delivery list permits hand delivery only to a tenant of the premises who is 16 years of age or older.
Post and Mail
If no one is available to receive it, leave the notice in a conspicuous place inside the premises and mail a copy by first-class mail. Photograph it for proof. Note that § 24.005(f-3), which governs the separate notice to vacate, now lists delivery to the inside of the premises; the old outside-the-main-entry-door sealed-envelope posting-and-mailing fallback was repealed effective 1 January 2026 by Senate Bill 38.
Certified Mail
Certified mail with return receipt creates a paper trail but does not always satisfy statutory service alone. Texas tenants sometimes refuse certified mail. Combine certified with another method for safety.
Proof of Service
Keep a proof-of-service record for every notice:
- Who served the notice (name and relationship to landlord)
- When it was served (date and time)
- Where it was served (address)
- How it was served (method)
- Who received it or signed for it
- Any refusal or circumstances
Use a proof-of-service form signed under penalty of perjury. Section 91.001 measures the notice period from the day the notice is given, so a landlord who cannot prove that date cannot prove the month has run — which is how a substantively valid termination still fails in the Justice of the Peace Court.
When in Doubt, Use Multiple Methods
For contentious Texas terminations, use personal delivery AND certified mail AND posting. The cost is modest and the defensibility in the Justice of the Peace Court is dramatically higher. A tenant who claims “I never got it” is hard to believe when the landlord produces a signed acknowledgment, a USPS tracking record, and a photograph of the posted notice.
Takeaway
Texas notice delivery is as important as the notice content — not because § 91.001 prescribes a method (it prescribes none) but because the notice date is what the one-month period runs from. Use personal delivery when possible, certified mail as backup, and keep a written proof-of-service record for every notice sent.
End of Tenancy: Inspection & Security Deposit
Once the termination date passes and the tenant has vacated the Texas rental, the landlord’s obligations shift to inspection, itemization, and deposit return. These steps are statutorily regulated and commonly generate disputes.
Move-Out Inspection
A Texas move-out inspection compares the unit’s condition against the condition at move-in. Best practice:
- Offer the tenant the opportunity to attend the inspection
- Photograph or video every room, closet, and fixture
- Note any damage, excessive wear, missing items, or cleaning needed
- Compare against the move-in condition report and photos
- Date-stamp all documentation
Ordinary Wear vs. Damage
Texas landlords may deduct for tenant-caused damage beyond ordinary wear, but not for ordinary wear itself. Examples:
| Ordinary Wear (NO deduction) | Damage (deduction allowed) |
|---|---|
| Faded paint | Holes in walls, unapproved paint colors |
| Minor carpet wear in traffic paths | Stains, burns, tears in carpet |
| Small nail holes from hanging pictures | Large holes, drywall damage |
| Worn caulk or grout | Broken tiles, missing fixtures |
| Minor kitchen-cabinet wear | Broken cabinet doors, missing hardware |
Itemized Statement
Texas requires landlords to provide the departing tenant with an itemized statement of deductions within the statutory period. The statement lists each deduction with a description, amount, and (ideally) attached receipts or estimates.
A landlord who fails to provide a timely itemized statement may forfeit the right to make deductions — or face penalties — depending on the specifics of Texas law. See our Texas security deposit guide for the exact timeline and penalty provisions.
Returning the Security Deposit
The refund (deposit minus documented deductions) must be returned to the tenant’s last known address within the statutory period. Best practices:
- Request a forwarding address during move-out
- Send by check to the forwarding address with tracking
- Keep the delivery receipt with the tenant file for at least three years
- If the deposit amount is contested, deliver the undisputed portion promptly and reserve the contested portion pending resolution
The 15-Day Rule of Thumb
Even where Texas allows a longer statutory period, aim to complete inspection, itemization, and refund within 15 days of move-out. Faster resolution prevents the dispute from escalating and discourages small-claims filings. Set a move-out calendar reminder the day the termination notice is served.
Takeaway
The end of a Texas tenancy is not over when the tenant moves out. Inspection, itemization, and deposit return are statutory obligations with real penalty exposure. Document everything, use the itemized statement, and return undisputed amounts promptly.
Common Texas Lease Termination Scenarios
Real-world Texas lease terminations rarely follow a clean script. These scenarios cover the situations that generate the most disputes and court filings.
Scenario 1: Tenant Wants to Leave Mid-Lease
A tenant on a fixed-term Texas lease decides to leave before the end date. Unless a statutory exception applies (military PCS orders under SCRA, documented domestic violence, habitability failures), the tenant remains liable for rent through the end of the term — subject to the landlord’s duty to mitigate by re-leasing.
See our Texas breaking lease guide for the statutory exceptions and mitigation rules. Voluntary early termination is best documented with a written mutual termination agreement stating the terms of departure.
Scenario 2: Landlord Wants to Sell the Property
Selling a Texas rental does not automatically terminate an existing lease. A fixed-term lease typically runs with the land — the buyer takes title subject to the tenant’s rights through the end of the lease. For a month-to-month tenancy, the seller or buyer must serve the standard termination notice (one month) before closing to end the tenancy.
Scenario 3: Landlord Wants to Move In
In Texas, owner move-in is a lawful reason to non-renew a fixed-term lease or to terminate a month-to-month tenancy with proper notice — and, because Texas has no just-cause requirement, the landlord need not state that or any other reason. In the states that do have just-cause statutes, owner move-in is a recognized ground but usually requires the owner to actually occupy the unit for a minimum period. No Texas statute imposes that condition.
Scenario 4: Tenant Stops Paying Rent
Non-payment of rent is grounds for termination in Texas, but the process is different from a no-cause termination. The landlord serves a written notice to vacate under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005 — at least three days unless the parties contracted for a shorter or longer period in a written lease, and framed as a notice to pay rent or vacate where the tenant was not late or delinquent before the month of the notice — and if the tenant neither pays nor leaves, files a forcible-detainer suit in the Justice of the Peace Court. Self-help eviction — changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities — is unlawful.
See our Texas eviction notice guide for the exact pay-or-quit procedure and timing.
Scenario 5: Lease Ends and Tenant Stays
A fixed-term lease expires and the tenant remains without signing a new agreement. The landlord must decide within a reasonable time whether to accept the tenant as a new month-to-month (by accepting rent) or to treat the tenant as a holdover (by refusing rent and filing for possession). Delay creates legal ambiguity — act promptly.
Scenario 6: Tenant Abandons the Unit
A tenant leaves the Texas rental without notice and without returning keys. Before treating the unit as abandoned, the landlord should verify: prolonged absence, utility shutoffs, removed personal property, forwarded mail. Texas abandonment law generally requires specific notice procedures before the landlord can re-let — do not assume abandonment without documentation.
Scenario 7: Death of a Tenant
When a sole Texas tenant dies, the lease generally terminates automatically (though some statutes give the estate a window to make arrangements). For co-tenants, the lease continues with the remaining tenants. For family members living with the tenant without being on the lease, their occupancy depends on local law.
Takeaway
Real Texas terminations are rarely clean. When the situation deviates from the standard script, slow down, document the specifics, and follow the statutory procedure exactly. A week of careful notice is cheaper than a year of litigation in the Justice of the Peace Court.
Compliant vs. Non-Compliant Terminations
The difference between a Texas termination that holds up in court and one that fails usually comes down to paperwork and timing. Here’s the contrast.
✓ Compliant Texas Termination
- Notice matching Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001, or the period an instrument signed by both parties substitutes — in writing, for proof
- Full notice period of one month (for M2M) or proper fixed-term date
- Notice includes address, parties, termination date, signature
- Personal delivery with signed acknowledgment (or certified mail)
- Proof-of-service record in the tenant file
- Non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory reason documented
- Move-out inspection with photos and tenant present
- Itemized deduction statement and deposit refund on time
✕ Non-Compliant Termination
- Oral notice or text message only
- Short notice period (e.g., “leave by next week”)
- Missing termination date or signature
- Left on windshield or slipped under door without proof
- No proof-of-service record
- Termination shortly after tenant complained
- Retained deposit with no itemization
- Deposit refund late or lost in the mail with no tracking
Common Texas Termination Mistakes
1. Miscounting the notice period. Counting calendar days wrong — or counting from the wrong date — invalidates the notice. Double-check your math before serving.
2. Using the wrong form. A § 24.005 notice to vacate is not a § 91.001 notice to terminate, and a calendar month is not thirty days — nor is it whatever longer period the signed lease requires. Match the notice form to the specific termination ground.
3. Accepting rent after serving notice. In Texas, accepting rent after serving a termination notice may waive the termination — treating the relationship as ongoing. If you must accept rent (e.g., for past-due amounts), do so with a written reservation-of-rights letter.
4. Ignoring retaliation exposure. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331(b) a landlord may not, within six months after the tenant gave a repair notice, complained to a code-enforcement body, utility or civic agency, exercised a right or remedy in good faith, or participated in a tenant organization, retaliate by filing an eviction proceeding, depriving the tenant of the premises, decreasing services, increasing the rent or terminating the lease, or engaging in bad faith in a course of conduct that materially interferes with the tenant’s lease rights. Section 92.333 gives the tenant a civil penalty of one month’s rent plus $500, actual damages, court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. There is no burden-shifting presumption in Texas; § 92.332 lists what is not retaliation, including a tenant delinquent in rent when the notice was given. Document the business reason contemporaneously.
5. Self-help eviction. Texas absolutely prohibits changing locks, removing belongings, cutting utilities, or intimidating the tenant out of the unit. Use the Justice of the Peace Court — never self-help.
Compliance Playbook
Identify the tenancy type and ground
Month-to-month, fixed-term non-renewal, or holdover? Document the specific basis for termination.
Calculate the notice period
For month-to-month tenancies in Texas, § 91.001 measures one calendar month — not thirty days — unless an instrument signed by both parties sets a different period or provides that no notice is required. For fixed-term tenancies, follow the contractual period. Build in a 3–5 day buffer.
Draft the notice in writing
Include all required elements. Review for typos and date errors before serving.
Serve by a defensible method
Personal delivery preferred; certified mail backup; posting for absent tenants.
File the proof-of-service record
Retain a signed proof-of-service and a copy of the served notice for at least three years.
Conduct move-out inspection
Offer the tenant the opportunity to attend. Photograph everything. Complete the inspection form.
Return the deposit with itemized statement
Within the statutory period to the forwarding address. Retain receipts and proof of delivery.
Takeaway
Every compliant Texas termination has three pieces: the full period § 91.001 or the signed lease requires, provable delivery, and documented follow-through. Miss any one and the termination may fail in the Justice of the Peace Court — requiring the landlord to start over while the tenant stays in possession.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notice is required to end a month-to-month tenancy in Texas?
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 either party may end a month-to-month tenancy by giving notice of termination to the other. The statute prescribes no form, no writing requirement and no delivery method. Where rent is paid monthly, the tenancy ends on the later of the day stated in the notice or one month after the day the notice is given — and under § 91.001(e)(1) an instrument signed by both parties may set a different period or provide that no notice is required. Put it in writing anyway: the date the notice was given is what the month runs from.
Can a Texas landlord end a fixed-term lease early?
A fixed-term lease in Texas generally runs through its end date. Early termination by the landlord requires a statutory basis — tenant non-payment, material breach, or other grounds in the lease — or mutual written agreement.
What happens if a Texas tenant stays past the lease end date?
A Texas tenant who remains after lease expiration becomes a holdover tenant. Texas holdover tenants are liable for rent through the end of the holdover period plus any damages the landlord incurs, and the landlord must file an eviction suit in Justice of the Peace Court.
Does Texas require just cause to not renew a lease?
Just-cause status in Texas: Not required. Where not required, landlords may decline to renew at the end of a fixed term without stating a reason, as long as the refusal is not discriminatory or retaliatory.
Are automatic lease renewal clauses enforceable in Texas?
Yes, as ordinary contract terms. No Texas Property Code provision governs automatic renewal of a residential lease — Chapter 91 contains only §§ 91.001, 91.003, 91.004, 91.005 and 91.006, none about renewal — and Texas imposes no statutory disclosure or reminder duty. Tenants should calendar the non-renewal cutoff in the lease and send notice early to avoid triggering an unintended renewal.
What court handles lease termination disputes in Texas?
Lease termination and holdover disputes in Texas are typically handled in the Justice of the Peace Court. Procedures vary by county — check local rules before filing.
Can a Texas landlord terminate for non-payment of rent?
Yes. Non-payment of rent is grounds for termination in Texas, but the landlord must follow a statutory pay-or-quit notice procedure and may not change locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities without a court order. See our Texas eviction notice guide for the pay-or-quit procedure.
What about the security deposit when the lease ends?
At the end of a Texas tenancy, the landlord must return the deposit (minus lawful deductions documented in an itemized statement) within the statutory period. See our Texas security deposit guide for the exact deadline and deduction rules.
Need Texas Lease Termination Help?
Our resource library covers every stage of the Texas landlord-tenant relationship — screening, leases, notices, and termination.
Ready to Screen Your Next Tenant?
Get comprehensive credit, criminal, and eviction reports — make confident leasing decisions.
Related Texas Resources
Published by Tenant Screening Background Check
Established 2004 · 20+ Years · All U.S. States & Territories · Statute-Based · Attorney-Reviewed
A Private Eye Reports™ service trusted by landlords, property managers, and attorneys.
