Showing an occupied home is a matter of contract and courtesy in Texas: there is no statewide statute fixing an entry-notice period, so the lease sets the notice, the hours and the method, and the landlord keeps to them. Two statutes still frame the visit. Property Code §92.0081 forbids intentionally preventing the tenant from entering except by judicial process, so a showing never becomes a lock-out or a removal of the tenant’s things; and the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301) applies to what is said to prospective tenants during the visit as much as to the advertisement.
The clause
- Notice: at least 24 hours in writing (e-mail or text as the lease permits), naming the date and a two-hour window.
- Frequency: a reasonable number of showings per week in the last 30–60 days of the term; say the number.
- Presence: the tenant may be present; the landlord or agent must be present with any visitor.
- Photographs: listing photographs taken before the tenant’s belongings are in the frame, or with the tenant’s written consent and no personal items, documents or valuables visible.
- Lockboxes: only with the tenant’s written consent and on stated terms.
- Consideration: an early-termination option or a rent credit for cooperation is lawful and often cheaper than a vacancy.
During the visit
- Confirm the appointment the day before; cancel in writing if the visitor cancels.
- Escort the visitor; do not open drawers, closets or medicine cabinets; keep visitors out of rooms the tenant has asked to exclude.
- Say nothing about the current tenant — not why they are leaving, not their name, not their rent.
- Do not discuss the visitor’s family, religion, national origin or disability; answer only questions about the property and the criteria.
- Leave a written note of the entry if the tenant was absent.
Applicant data during showings
A visitor who fills in an application on the kitchen counter has handed over identifiers; take applications away or through a portal, never leave them in the unit, and follow the data security guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice must a Texas landlord give before a showing?
Whatever the lease says — Texas has no statewide entry-notice statute — so write a notice period, hours and method into the lease and keep to them (Property Code Chapter 92).
Can listing photos show the tenant’s belongings?
Only with the tenant’s written consent and with personal items, documents and valuables out of frame; photographs taken before occupancy avoid the question.
Can a landlord install a lockbox on an occupied home?
Only with the tenant’s written agreement; the lease cannot waive the tenant’s right to exclusive possession, and §92.0081 prohibits exclusion of the tenant (Property Code §92.0081).
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 Property Code, Chapter 301 — Texas Fair Housing Act ↗
- 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.