A welcome packet is one folder — paper and PDF — that contains the lease copy Texas requires, the numbers the tenant will need before they need them, and the property’s rules in the same words as the lease. Two items are statutory: the complete copy of the signed lease due within three business days under Property Code §92.024, and the emergency telephone number required by §92.020. The rest — the utility sheet, the repair-reporting route, the shutoff locations, the local storm or freeze instructions — is what turns the lease into a household that runs.
Contents
| Item | Content | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lease copy and addenda | Signed lease, flood notice, lead disclosure (pre-1978), pet or assistance-animal addendum, HOA rules | §92.024; §92.0135; EPA |
| Contacts | Landlord or manager; the 24-hour emergency number; who to call for what | §92.020 |
| Rent | Amount, due date, methods, portal instructions, the late-fee clause in plain words | §92.019; §92.011 |
| Repairs | How to report (the address or portal where rent is paid), what counts as an emergency, expected response | §92.052 notice route |
| Utilities | Providers, account transfer confirmation, whether there is retail electric choice, water office details | Utility clause |
| Shutoffs | Photographs of the water main, gas valve and breaker panel with locations | Leaks, freezes |
| Safety devices | Smoke-alarm locations and the tenant’s duty not to disable them; lock re-key date | §§92.2611, 92.156 |
| Local sheet | Storm, freeze, drought-stage or siren instructions for the city | City guides on this site |
| Move-out | Notice required, forwarding-address form, cleaning standard | §§91.001, 92.107 |
Rules for the packet
- Every sentence must match the lease; a packet that promises a faster repair time or a softer late-fee rule than the lease is a term the tenant can rely on.
- Date it and version it; when the lease is renewed, reissue it.
- Give it at the key handover and by e-mail; note the date on the move-in record.
- Keep it short — a tenant reads two pages, not twenty; put the rest in an appendix.
What to leave out
Anything that reads as a rule but is not in the lease (new fees, new restrictions), and anything that touches the tenant’s protected characteristics. The packet informs; the lease binds.
Frequently asked questions
What must a Texas landlord give a new tenant?
A complete copy of the signed lease within three business days and a telephone number for reporting emergencies affecting health or safety (Property Code §§92.024, 92.020).
Can the packet change the lease terms?
No. It should restate the lease in plain words; a packet promise more favourable to the tenant than the lease can be held against the landlord.
What local information belongs in it?
The city’s utility set-up rules, storm or freeze instructions, drought stages and any local alert system — the city guides on this site list them for twenty Texas cities.
Sources
Rules change and the right answer can depend on the home, the city, the lease and the timing. These are the official pages this guide relies on; check them before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 92 — Residential Tenancies ↗
- Texas State Law Library — Landlord/Tenant Law research guide ↗
- Texas State Law Library — Leases ↗
General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation. Written by the rentalfreelease.com Editorial Team; last reviewed September 19, 2026.