Does a Texas lease have to be in writing?

Not for every tenancy, but a written lease is the practical standard: it proves rent, term, late fees and notice terms. Put it in writing and keep a signed copy.

Can I use a free generic lease template for Texas?

You can start from one, but check it against Texas rules on deposits, late fees and notices, and remove clauses Texas law does not allow. A Texas-specific form or attorney review is safer for repeated use.

How much security deposit can I charge in Texas?

This pilot did not verify a statewide statutory cap, so do not rely on a number quoted on a blog. Check current Texas law and your local rules, state the exact amount in the lease, and document what you collected.

What happens at the end of a fixed-term lease?

That depends on the lease language — it may end, renew, or convert. Read the holdover and renewal clauses before the end date, and use a written renewal or a new lease rather than assuming.

Texas Lease Agreement

A Texas lease agreement is the written contract between a landlord and tenant that sets rent, term, who lives in the home, and each side's duties. It is the document almost every other landlord form points back to — late fees, notice periods and deposit duties often turn on what the lease says.

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What it is

When to use it

Signing a new tenant for a house, duplex or apartment in Texas
Renewing on new terms rather than a simple extension (use a renewal agreement for a straight extension)
Changing from an informal or oral arrangement to a written one — a written lease protects both sides

What to include — checklist

Print this page to use the checklist on paper.

Full legal names of landlord (or manager) and every adult tenant, plus the property address
Lease term: start date, end date, and what happens if the tenant stays past the end
Rent amount, due date, where and how rent is paid, and any late-fee term written into the lease
Security deposit amount collected and what it may be used for
Who pays which utilities, and who handles yard, pest and minor maintenance
Occupancy limits, guests, parking, pets, smoking and other house rules you actually intend to enforce
Entry / access expectations, repair request process, and notice addresses for both sides
Required disclosures that apply to the property (for example, federal lead-based paint disclosure for most housing built before 1978)
Signatures and date, with a copy given to the tenant; keep the signed original with your records

Texas-specific requirements

Late fees: Texas Property Code §92.019 allows a late fee only where the lease addresses it and the fee is reasonable — see the Late Rent Notice page for the verified timing and reasonableness figures.
Security deposits: Texas Property Code §92.103 requires a refund on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises (subject to the forwarding-address rule in §92.107). Do not write a lease clause that contradicts the statute.
Notice periods: several Texas defaults can be changed by a written lease or agreement — for example the notice-to-vacate period in §24.005 — so state your intended period clearly instead of relying on the default.
Texas does not, in the sources verified for this pilot, impose a single statewide form every landlord must use. Check your lease and local rules, and have a Texas attorney review a lease you plan to reuse.

Statute references are included only where verified for this pilot. Where a rule depends on your lease or local court, the page says so instead of guessing.

Common mistakes

Using a generic 50-state template that conflicts with Texas deposit, late-fee or notice rules
Leaving rent due date, late fee, or notice address blank — blanks become arguments later
Collecting a deposit or fees that the signed lease never mentions
Signing only the last page and losing the addenda — keep the complete signed set together
Never giving the tenant a copy

Related forms

Texas Pet Addendum — pet terms, deposits and rules as a lease addendum
Texas Roommate Addendum — adding or changing occupants under the lease
Texas Lease Guarantor Agreement — a signed guarantor/co-signer commitment
Texas Rent Increase Notice — changing rent at renewal or in a monthly tenancy

Where landlords get this form

These providers publish Texas-specific landlord forms and document tools. We describe them here for comparison — we do not link out from this pilot site yet.

Provider	Best described as	What to check before you buy
LawDepot	DIY legal-document builder covering leases, applications and notices, form by form or by subscription.	Whether the Texas version is included in a free trial, subscription, or single-document price.
ezLandlordForms	Landlord-focused forms library built specifically around rentals, screening and state lease packages.	Whether you need a single form or its Texas state package, and what updates are included.
Rocket Lawyer	Document builder bundled with membership options that can include attorney Q&A services.	What the membership includes after any trial, and how cancellation works.
LegalZoom	Well-known legal-services platform, strongest on business formation and broader legal products, with some landlord documents.	Whether the exact landlord form you need is offered for Texas, versus a business product.

Partner links activate after approval. When partnerships are approved, links on this page may become affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That will be disclosed here before any link goes live.

Texas Landlord Paperwork Pack — $19

A printable bundle of the Texas checklists and letter templates from this site, organized in the order a small landlord actually uses them: application, lease signing, move-in, late rent, renewal, move-out and deposit return.

Get the Texas Landlord Pack — $19

Sold and delivered by Gumroad (Open Line Press). Instant download: print-ready pack + editable source.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Texas lease have to be in writing?: Not for every tenancy, but a written lease is the practical standard: it proves rent, term, late fees and notice terms. Put it in writing and keep a signed copy.
Can I use a free generic lease template for Texas?: You can start from one, but check it against Texas rules on deposits, late fees and notices, and remove clauses Texas law does not allow. A Texas-specific form or attorney review is safer for repeated use.
How much security deposit can I charge in Texas?: This pilot did not verify a statewide statutory cap, so do not rely on a number quoted on a blog. Check current Texas law and your local rules, state the exact amount in the lease, and document what you collected.
What happens at the end of a fixed-term lease?: That depends on the lease language — it may end, renew, or convert. Read the holdover and renewal clauses before the end date, and use a written renewal or a new lease rather than assuming.