A Texas residential lease is complete when eight blanks are filled without ambiguity — parties, property, term, rent, deposit, occupancy, utilities and signatures — and when the documents the law attaches to it are in the same packet. Texas does not prescribe a lease form, but Property Code Chapter 92 attaches duties to whatever you sign: a copy to the tenant within three business days (§92.024), a flood notice (§92.0135), the late-fee conditions (§92.019), the security-device and smoke-alarm rules (Subchapters D and F) and a deposit refund clock that starts at surrender (§92.103). The checklist below covers the blanks first and the attachments second; the sample lease shows every item filled in.
The eight blanks
| Blank | What to write | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Parties | Every adult who will live there, as tenant; the owner of record or authorised agent, as landlord | §92.201 lets a tenant demand the owner’s name and address; an unsigned adult is an occupant, not a tenant |
| Property | Street address with unit, plus what is included (parking, storage, appliances) | Disputes at move-out turn on what was let |
| Term | Start and end dates; what happens at expiry (month-to-month under §91.001 unless the lease says otherwise) | §91.001 gives one month’s notice for a monthly tenancy |
| Rent | Amount, due date, where and how paid; §92.011 requires cash to be accepted unless the lease requires a traceable instrument | Late fees under §92.019 depend on a written clause |
| Deposit | Amount, that it is a security deposit under §92.102, and any advance-notice-of-surrender condition in bold or underlined (§92.103(b)) | Refund within 30 days of surrender after a forwarding address (§§92.103, 92.107) |
| Occupancy | Named occupants; the §92.010 ceiling of three adults per bedroom | Guests who become residents |
| Utilities | Which party opens and pays each account; any allocation method for master-metered water (Water Code §13.5031) | §92.008 forbids interruption by the landlord |
| Signatures | All tenants and the landlord; date; copy delivered under §92.024 | A missing signature is a missing obligor |
The attachments
- Flood notice under §92.0135, signed by both parties, in the lease or as an addendum (TREC form).
- Lead pamphlet, disclosure and warning statement for most pre-1978 housing (EPA).
- The statutory early-termination sentence: “Tenants may have special statutory rights to terminate the lease early in certain situations involving family violence or a military deployment or transfer” — required for the protections in §§92.016 and 92.017 to work in the landlord’s favour.
- Tenant selection criteria acknowledgment if you use one (§92.3515), kept with the application.
- Any HOA rules the tenant must follow, and the parking or towing rules §92.0131 requires in a multiunit complex.
Before anyone signs
- Read the lease against the table above and fill every blank; an empty deposit line is a deposit dispute.
- Attach the notices and have both parties sign the flood notice.
- Give the tenant a complete copy within three business days and record the date (§92.024).
- Test smoke alarms and re-key locks within seven days of turnover (§§92.258, 92.156) and note both on the move-in record.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas require a specific lease form?
No. Any written lease works, but Property Code Chapter 92 attaches duties to it — copy within three business days, flood notice, late-fee limits, security devices, smoke alarms and deposit rules (Chapter 92).
What happens if the lease has no end-date clause?
The tenancy continues month to month, and either party may end it on one month’s notice under §91.001 unless the lease sets a different period (Property Code §91.001).
Which notices must be in the lease packet?
The §92.0135 flood notice (signed), the lead disclosure for most pre-1978 housing, and the early-termination sentence that §§92.016 and 92.017 refer to; add the §92.3515 criteria acknowledgment if you screen (Chapter 92, EPA).
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 91 — Provisions generally applicable to landlords and tenants (§91.001 notice for terminating certain tenancies) ↗
- TREC — Landlord’s Floodplain and Flood Notice (official form) ↗
- EPA — Real estate disclosures about potential lead hazards (lessor requirements) ↗
- rentalfreelease.com — Sample Texas residential lease (PDF) ↗
- 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.