A Texas standard residential lease agreement is a legally binding document that outlines the terms under which a landlord rents out a property to a tenant, usually in exchange for monthly rent payments. These agreements commonly have a term of one year.
The agreement typically outlines the lease terms, property description, rental price, late rent penalties, and the specified security deposit amount.
Lease Length Considerations
- The maximum duration for an oral standard residential lease is one year. Any tenancy that extends for one year or longer is required to have a written lease agreement. [1]
Required Disclosures
- Identification of property owner
- Parking rules addendum
- Disclosure of special conditions to cancel the lease
- Disclosure of the tenant’s remedies
- Disclosure of lead-based hazards
Explore our Texas lease agreement page for more information on the disclosures landlords need to make.
Security Deposit
- Maximum Amount ($): No state-imposed limit.
- Returning to Tenant: Within 30 days. [2]
Rent Payment
- Grace Period: There is a legally mandated two-day grace period for rent payments. [3]
- Maximum Late Fee: It depends on how many units the property has. If the property has no more than four units, the late fee can’t be more than 12% of the monthly rent payment. If the property has more than four units, the landlord can’t charge a late fee of more than 10% of the monthly rent payment. [3]
- NSF Fee: If a tenant writes a bad check and it doesn’t go through, the landlord can charge a maximum of $30. [4]
Landlord Resources
- Landlord-Tenant Laws – § 8-92 (Residential Tenancies).
- Handbook – Tenants’ Rights Guide.
