THE FIELD GUIDE / TEXAS
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Texas lease checklist for independent landlords
A useful lease starts with accurate parties, property, term, rent, deposit, occupancy, utilities and signature details. Treat addenda and disclosures as part of the signing packet.
Read guide Lease essentialsMonth-to-month rental agreements in Texas
A month-to-month arrangement still needs clear rent, due date, notice method and property rules. The notice needed to end it depends on the agreement and Texas law.
Read guide Lease essentialsFixed-term lease planning in Texas
A fixed term should identify both start and end dates and explain what happens at expiration. A renewal should never depend on an unstated assumption.
Read guide Lease essentialsWho should sign a Texas rental lease?
Identify every adult tenant and every landlord or authorized agent correctly. Occupants who are not signing tenants should be described separately if relevant.
Read guide Lease essentialsHow to write a rent due date in a lease
The rent clause should make the amount, due date, accepted payment methods and delivery instructions easy to find. Ambiguity makes later accounting harder.
Read guide Lease essentialsHow to allocate utilities in a Texas lease
State which party opens and pays each utility account. Shared meters, internet and service interruptions deserve explicit treatment when applicable.
Read guide Lease essentialsWriting an occupancy clause for a rental
An occupancy clause should explain authorized residents and how a new occupant is approved. Apply it consistently with fair housing requirements.
Read guide Lease essentialsPet terms and assistance animals in leases
Pet terms can address ordinary pets, damage and cleaning. Assistance animals require a separate fair housing analysis and should not be treated automatically as pets.
Read guide Lease essentialsMaintenance responsibilities in a Texas lease
The lease can describe routine upkeep and reporting channels, but it cannot erase statutory repair duties. A clear process is more useful than broad disclaimers.
Read guide Lease essentialsWhich addenda belong with a Texas lease?
Property features and federal rules can require extra documents. Lead disclosures for most pre-1978 housing are a common example.
Read guide Deposits and feesTexas security deposit return timeline
Texas Property Code §92.103 generally sets a 30-day deadline after surrender, subject to the forwarding-address rule in §92.107. Document when possession was returned.
Read guide Deposits and feesWhy a forwarding address matters for Texas deposits
Texas law links the duty to refund or provide an accounting to the tenant providing a written forwarding address. The address may be given before or after surrender.
Read guideGeneral information, not legal advice. Rules can depend on your property, city and signed lease. Check the primary sources linked in each guide.