Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 (National Weather Service), and a coastal Texas landlord’s preparation is three documents and one sheet: the wind policy, the flood policy, the §92.0135 flood notice, and a storm sheet the tenant keeps by the door. The insurance geography is fixed by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association — wind cover of last resort for the fourteen first-tier coastal counties and parts of Harris County east of Highway 146, subject to a windstorm certificate (TWIA). Two Property Code sections govern the aftermath: §92.054 on casualty loss (termination or rent reduction if the unit is unusable; the repair clock starts when insurance proceeds arrive) and §92.062, which forbids requiring a tenant displaced by a natural disaster to sign a lease longer than the term remaining when the landlord moves them to another unit.
Before June 1
| Item | Action | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wind cover | Confirm the policy or TWIA eligibility; note the named-storm deductible (often a percentage) | TWIA |
| Flood cover | NFIP or private policy; standard policies exclude flood | FloodSmart |
| Flood notice | §92.0135 notice signed and on file; update if the property flooded | Property Code §92.0135 |
| Roof and exterior | Photographs with dates; trees trimmed; loose items secured; gutters clear | Claims file |
| Evacuation zone | Know the county’s zone for the address; write it on the storm sheet | County emergency management |
| Storm sheet | Utility outage numbers, shutoff locations, the landlord’s number, the county alert system, the evacuate-or-shelter decision | §92.020 emergency number |
| Vacant units | Secured; utilities off where safe | Insurance vacancy clauses |
During and after
- Watch or warning: the tenant follows county orders; the landlord does not require the tenant to stay or to move property.
- After: the tenant photographs and reports damage in writing — the §92.056 repair clock starts with the report; the landlord photographs, opens wind and flood claims separately, and acknowledges the report the same day.
- Unusable unit: §92.054 — if totally unusable and not the tenant’s fault, either party may terminate by written notice before repairs are completed, with a pro-rata rent refund; a partially unusable unit may warrant a rent reduction; the repair period for an insured loss begins when the proceeds arrive.
- Relocation to another of the landlord’s units: no lease longer than the remaining term may be required (§92.062).
- Utilities: outages are the utility’s; the landlord may not interrupt service and should not promise restoration times (§92.008).
The coastal cities
Houston, Pasadena, Corpus Christi and Brownsville each have a city guide on this site with the local sheet — evacuation resources, utility numbers, drainage districts and, in Pasadena, the siren system. The state-level rules above apply to all of them.
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a coastal Texas rental need for hurricanes?
Wind and hail cover — through TWIA in the designated coastal area if the private market declines — plus a separate flood policy; a standard landlord policy excludes flood (TWIA, FloodSmart).
What if a hurricane makes the rental unusable?
Under Property Code §92.054 either party may terminate by written notice if the premises are totally unusable through no fault of the tenant, with a pro-rata refund; a partially unusable unit may warrant a rent reduction (Property Code §92.054).
Can a displaced tenant be moved to another unit on a new long lease?
Only for a term no longer than the remaining term of the original lease, under §92.062 (Property Code §92.062).
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.
- National Weather Service — Hurricane safety ↗
- Texas Windstorm Insurance Association — Coverage eligibility ↗
- FloodSmart — the National Flood Insurance Program ↗
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 92 — Residential Tenancies ↗
- National Weather Service — Flood safety ↗
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.