Here are some things that a landlord cannot do in Texas:
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Retaliate against a tenant: According to Texas law, a landlord cannot retaliate against a tenant for exercising a right given to them by law or by the lease. This includes retaliatory eviction, raising the rent, or breaking the lease.
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Interrupt utilities: Except under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, a landlord may not interrupt utilities to a tenant unless the interruption results from:
- bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency;
- a tenants failure to pay for utilities that the tenant agreed to pay as part of the lease agreement;
- a tenant's unauthorized connection or disconnection of utility services; or
- a tenant's tampering with a utility meter.
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Discriminate against applicants: A landlord may not discriminate against applicants based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.
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Have occupancy limits that discriminate against families with children: Texas law generally limits occupancy to three adults (persons over 18), but a landlord cannot have occupancy limits that discriminate against families with children.
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Disable smoke detectors: The landlord must provide smoke detectors, and tenants cannot waive this provision or disconnect or disable the smoke detector.
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Fail to provide security devices: A dwelling must be equipped with security devices such as window latches, keyed deadbolts on exterior doors, sliding door pin locks and sliding door handle latches or sliding door security bars, and door viewers. These devices must be installed at the landlord's expense, and if they are missing or defective, tenants have the right to request their installation or repair.
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Retaliate against a tenant for complaining about necessary repairs: Under Texas law, it is illegal for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for complaining in good faith about necessary repairs for a period of six months from the date of the complaint.
