Texas does not regulate cash-for-keys agreements between landlords and tenants, and Houston has no ordinance setting minimum payments, written-disclosure requirements, or cooling-off periods for voluntary move-out deals.
Cash-for-keys is purely a private contract under Texas law. A landlord may offer any amount, with any terms, and a tenant may accept or refuse. There is no statutory floor (unlike Oakland's $7,000+ minimum), no required form, no language requirements, and no rescission window. Tenants should sign a written agreement that releases all claims, sets a vacate date, and specifies the payment schedule. Houston Housing Authority and federally subsidized properties may have program-specific rules, but private market deals are unregulated. Common Houston payments range $500 to $5,000 depending on remaining lease term and unit value.
No ordinance to violate. If a landlord pays cash-for-keys and the tenant refuses to leave, the landlord must still file an eviction under Chapter 24. A tenant who accepts but isn't paid may sue for breach of contract.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Houston's cash-for-keys agreements rules stack up against other locations.
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