Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.019 a residential late fee must be reasonable and may be charged only if written in the lease and the rent stays unpaid two full days after due. A fee is deemed reasonable at up to 12% of rent for a structure with four or fewer units, or 10% for larger structures.
Tex. Prop. Code § 92.019 bars a landlord from collecting a late fee unless notice of the fee is in a written lease and "any portion of the tenant's rent has remained unpaid two full days after the date the rent was originally due." The fee must be reasonable. A late fee is deemed reasonable if it is "12 percent of the amount of rent" for a dwelling in a structure with not more than four units, or 10 percent for structures with more than four units; higher fees are allowed only if reasonable in relation to uncertain damages from the late payment. The fee may combine an initial charge and a daily charge, counted as a single late fee, and any lease provision waiving these protections is void.
A landlord who violates § 92.019 is liable to the tenant for "the sum of $100, three times the amount of the late fee collected in violation of this section, and the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees."
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Houston, TX
Smoke alarms in Houston dwellings are governed by Tex. Health & Safety Code Chapter 766 and the Houston Fire Code, which adopts the International Fire Code (...
Houston, TX
Houston has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments, statuary, or year-round decorations on residential property. With no zoning and limited aesthetic c...
Houston, TX
Houston has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Inflatable size, location, lighting, and motor noise are governed by subdiv...
Houston, TX
Houston has no municipal ordinance regulating holiday light displays. With no zoning and limited aesthetic regulation, holiday lighting is governed by deed r...
Houston, TX
Houston requires building permits for built-in outdoor kitchens that include gas lines, plumbing, electrical wiring, or structural roofs. Standalone freestan...
Houston, TX
Houston has no specific ordinance prohibiting residential smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens. Smoke nuisance complaints may be addressed under Chapt...
See how Houston's late fees & grace periods rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.