Texas Rental Lease Agreement Templates (6)

Types (6)

Commercial Lease Agreement (PDF)

Used for renting out property that is zoned specifically for business use. Complies with all TX laws and regulations.

 

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Lease to Own Agreement (PDF)

Gives tenants the option of purchasing the rental at the end of the lease.

 

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Month-to-Month Lease Agreement

For renting out a property 1 month at a time. No set end date.

 

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Roommate Agreement (PDF)

For establishing rules and routines for a rental shared by 2 or more co-tenants.

 

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Standard Residential Lease Agreement

The most common rental contract. For renting out a property for a fixed term, such as 1 year.

 

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Sublease Agreement (PDF)

Used for having another person take over a lease. This allows the original tenant to move out without having to pay rent for 2 places.

 

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Addendums (5)

Addendum 1 – TAR-2008 (Lead Paint)

 

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Addendum 2 – TAR-2004 (Pet Agreement)

 

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Addendum 3 – TAR-2010 (Pool/Spa Maintenance)

 

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Addendum 4 – TAR-2204 (Multiple Properties)

 

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Addendum 5 – Crime Free

 

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Amendments (2)

Amendment 1 – TAR-2005 (Lease Extension)

 

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Amendment 2 – TAR-2211 (Tenant Change)

 

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What is a Texas Lease Agreement?

A Texas lease agreement puts the rules of a rental into a binding contract between a landlord and tenant. It specifies each party’s obligations for the duration of the tenancy.

Texas law requires landlords to install smoke alarms and to re-key all exterior door locks between tenants.[5][6] The state also provides tenants with a statutory right to repair conditions that materially affect health and safety if the landlord fails to respond to a written repair request within a reasonable time.[4]

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State Laws & Guides

Laws

• Ch. 91 “Provisions Generally Applicable to Landlords and Tenants”
• Ch. 92 “Residential Tenancies”
• Ch. 93 “Commercial Tenancies”
• Ch. 301 “Texas Fair Housing Act”

Landlord-Tenant Guides / Handbooks

• Tenants’ Rights Handbook.pdf
• Texas Landlords and Tenants Guide.pdf

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When is Rent Due?

The precise due date of rent is not stated by TX law. As such, the due date of rent should be clearly outlined in the written lease agreement. A landlord must provide a tenant with a grace period of at least 2 full days before charging a late fee.[3]

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Landlord’s Access

Emergency: No statute. Federal law provides landlords with the right of entry to an occupied rental property (without notice) in the event of an emergency.

Non-Emergency: No statute. State law does not specify a mandatory notice period for a landlord to access the rental property in non-emergency situations. To be courteous, landlords are recommended to provide tenants with at least 24 hours’ notice prior to making entry.

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Landlord’s Duties

Texas Property Code Chapter 92 establishes several repair and safety obligations for residential landlords:[4]

1. A landlord must make a diligent effort to repair or remedy a condition that materially affects the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant, provided the tenant has given written notice and is current on rent.
2. Smoke alarms must be installed in each bedroom and on every level of the rental. The landlord is responsible for testing and repairing alarms at the start of each new tenancy.[5]
3. Exterior door security devices — including a doorknob lock, a deadbolt, a keyless bolting device, and a peephole — must be installed on every exterior door. Sliding doors require a pin lock and security bar.[6]
4. All exterior door locks must be re-keyed between tenants. A new tenant may also request a lock change within the first 7 days of occupancy.

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Tenant’s Duties

Texas does not consolidate tenant maintenance obligations into a single statute the way states that adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act do. The state’s property code does set out the following expectations:

1. Tenants must provide written notice to the landlord of conditions that need repair. The notice should identify the problem and be sent by mail or delivered in person.[10]
2. A repair condition must not have been caused by the tenant, a member of the tenant’s family, or a guest through misuse, abuse, or neglect.[4]
3. Tenants in month-to-month arrangements must give at least 1 month’s written notice before ending the tenancy.[12]
4. All remaining duties — including rent payment, property upkeep, and adherence to building rules — are governed by the terms of the written lease agreement.

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Required Disclosures

• Lead Paint Disclosure – If a landlord of a property constructed before 1978 is aware of any lead paint hazards in the rental, they must inform the tenants prior to move-in. The landlord must also provide a copy of the government-issued pamphlet on lead-based hazards.
• Names and Addresses[7] – A landlord must disclose the name and either a street or post office box address of the holder of record title of the dwelling. If a management company is primarily responsible for managing the dwelling, that company’s name and address should be given instead.
• Parking Rules[8] – Landlords that manage multiunit complexes must provide tenants with a copy of any relevant towing and parking rules or policies, and inform them of any changes to those rules.
• Rule or Policy Changes[8] – If the landlord wishes to change a rule or policy that is not included in the lease agreement and will affect any personal property owned by the tenant located outside the tenant’s dwelling, they must provide prior written notice.
• Special Conditions to Cancel Agreement[9] – A landlord must include a statement in the lease agreement that is similar or identical to the following: “Tenants may have special statutory rights to terminate the lease early in certain situations involving family violence or a military deployment or transfer.”
• Tenant’s Remedies[10] – A landlord must include language in the written lease, in underlined or bold text, that informs the tenant of the remedies available to them under §§ 92.056 and 92.0561.
• Copy of Lease[13] – Within 3 business days of signing, the landlord must provide a complete copy of the lease to at least one of the tenants named in the agreement.
• 100-Year Flood Plain[14] – If the rental property is located in a 100-year flood plain as designated by FEMA, the landlord must disclose this to the tenant in the lease agreement.

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Security Deposits

Maximum: No statute; landlords can request whatever security deposit they deem fair. The recommended deposit is 1 month’s rent for unfurnished units and 2 months’ rent for fully furnished units.

Returning to Tenant: The landlord must return a security deposit to the tenant on or before the 30th day after the date the tenant moves out of the dwelling.[11]

Deposit Interest: No statute.