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Houston, TX Rental Property Rules: No-Fault Evictions (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified May 2026

Key Facts

Statute
TX Property Code Ch. 24 and 91
Month-to-month notice
30 days written
Notice to vacate
3 days minimum before filing
Just-cause required
No, except subsidized units
Court
Justice of the Peace court

Summary

Texas Property Code Chapter 24 allows landlords to terminate month-to-month tenancies or refuse to renew fixed-term leases without cause, requiring only proper written notice; Houston imposes no just-cause requirement.

Sec. 91.001. NOTICE FOR TERMINATING CERTAIN TENANCIES. (a) A monthly tenancy or a tenancy from month to month may be terminated by the tenant or the landlord giving notice of termination to the other.(b) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is at least one month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later:(1) the day given in the notice for termination; or(2) one month after the day on which the notice is given.

Source: City of Houston Code of OrdinancesView official code

Full Breakdown

Texas is a no-fault eviction state. Under Section 91.001, a landlord may end a month-to-month tenancy with one month's written notice. Fixed-term leases simply expire; no renewal is required. After lease expiration or notice period, the landlord must give a three-day notice to vacate (Section 24.005) unless the lease specifies a different period, then file forcible-detainer in justice court. Houston has no local just-cause ordinance overriding this. Federally subsidized housing (LIHTC, Section 8 project-based, public housing) does require good cause under federal program rules, but private market units do not.

Violations & Fines

Landlord skipping written notice or filing eviction before the notice period expires loses the case in justice court. Tenants may also raise retaliation defenses under Section 92.331 if eviction follows a complaint about repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my Houston landlord evict me for no reason?
Yes, at lease end or by terminating month-to-month with 30 days' notice. Texas does not require just cause. Subsidized housing tenants have federal good-cause protection.
How much notice must my landlord give?
30 days for month-to-month under Section 91.001, then a 3-day notice to vacate before filing eviction. Lease may modify the 3-day period in either direction.
Can I fight a no-cause eviction?
You can challenge defective notice, raise retaliation under Section 92.331, or assert fair-housing defenses, but pure no-cause termination at lease end is generally lawful in Texas.

Sources & Official References

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