Tex. Prop. Code § 94.253 · Subchapter F. PROHIBITED ACTS
NONRETALIATION.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) A landlord is not liable for retaliation under this subchapter if the landlord proves that the action was not made for purposes of retaliation, nor is the landlord liable, unless the action violates a prior court order under Section 94.159, for:
(1) increasing rent under an escalation clause in a written lease for utilities, taxes, or insurance; or
(2) increasing rent or reducing services as part of a pattern of rent increases or service reductions for an entire manufactured home community.
(b) An eviction or lease termination based on the following circumstances, which are valid grounds for eviction or lease termination in any event, does not constitute retaliation:
(1) the tenant is delinquent in rent or other amounts due under the lease that in the aggregate equal the amount of at least one month's rent when the landlord gives notice to vacate or files an eviction action;
(2) the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or a guest or invitee of the tenant intentionally damages property on the premises or by word or conduct threatens the personal safety of the landlord, the landlord's employees, or another tenant;
(3) the tenant has materially breached the lease, other than by holding over, by an action such as violating written lease provisions prohibiting serious misconduct or criminal acts, except as provided by this section;
(4) the tenant holds over after giving notice of termination or intent to vacate;
(5) the tenant holds over after the landlord gives notice of termination at the end of the rental term and the tenant does not take action under Section 94.251 until after the landlord gives notice of termination; or
(6) the tenant holds over and the landlord's notice of termination is motivated by a good faith belief that the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or a guest or invitee of the tenant might:
(A) adversely affect the quiet enjoyment by other tenants or neighbors;
(B) materially affect the health or safety of the landlord, other tenants, or neighbors; or
(C) damage the property of the landlord, other tenants, or neighbors.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 801, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2002.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.94.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 f8b4f5b4c0ed76fc721e28408b316a52cd7b3026dafd46e77e97d6fd3d3ce41b
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.