Texas Property Code Section 92.331 prohibits landlord retaliation for a narrow set of tenant actions, but Houston has no Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance like Los Angeles or Seattle covering broader landlord harassment.
Section 92.331 makes it unlawful to retaliate within six months of a tenant's good-faith complaint to a government agency, exercise of a legal right, or participation in a tenant organization. Remedies under Section 92.333 include one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs. The statute does not reach harassment outside retaliation: repeated unannounced entry, threats, utility shutoffs, or coercive buyout offers fall under separate provisions or general tort law. Houston has no comprehensive TAHO. Tenants experiencing harassment should document incidents, send certified-mail demand letters, and consult Lone Star Legal Aid or Houston Volunteer Lawyers.
Retaliation within six months of protected activity triggers Section 92.333 damages. Unauthorized entry, lockouts (Section 92.0081), and utility shutoff (Section 92.008) are separate violations with their own remedies, including one month's rent plus $1,000 for illegal lockout.
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