Texas Tenants

Get your security deposit back in Texas.

A professional demand letter citing Texas Property Code § 92.103, the 30-day return deadline, and the triple damages penalty for bad-faith withholding. Ready in minutes.

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Deadline

30 days

to return your deposit after move-out

Penalty

3× damages

for bad-faith withholding under § 92.109

Statute

§ 92.103

Texas Property Code

What Texas law actually says.

Under Texas Property Code § 92.103 & § 92.109, your landlord has 30 days from the date you surrender the property to return your security deposit or provide a written, itemized list of deductions.

If the landlord acts in bad faith — for example, refusing to return the deposit, providing no itemization, or making clearly improper deductions — Texas Property Code § 92.109 allows you to recover:

  • A statutory penalty of $100
  • Three times the portion of the deposit wrongfully withheld
  • Reasonable attorney's fees

So a $1,500 deposit wrongfully withheld in full can result in a court judgment of $4,600 plus fees. Most landlords settle quickly once they realize you know the law.

What a Texas demand letter looks like.

Every letter follows the structure courts expect — your facts, the statute, a specific demand, and a deadline. Here's the skeleton; the generator fills the brackets from your answers and computes Texas's deadlines under § 92.103.

[Date]

[Your name]
[Your forwarding address]

[Landlord's name and address]

RE: Security Deposit — Formal Demand for Return of $[Amount]

I am the former tenant of [rental property address]. You accepted a security deposit of $[Amount], and my tenancy ended on [move-out date]. My forwarding address for return of the deposit is stated above, which I am providing to you in writing.

Under § 92.103, you were required to [return the deposit or provide an itemized statement] within [the statutory period]. That period has passed, and you have done neither. [The specific consequence Texas law attaches, cited by section.]

I demand return of $[Amount] no later than [deadline]. If I do not receive it, I am prepared to pursue all remedies available under [statute], including filing suit in the appropriate court.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Common questions about Texas deposits.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Texas?

30 days after you move out.

What is the penalty if a Texas landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit?

A landlord who acts in bad faith is liable for a $100 statutory penalty, three times the portion of the deposit wrongfully withheld, and the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees under § 92.109.

Which law covers security deposits in Texas?

Texas Property Code § 92.103 and Texas Property Code § 92.109. We verify these against the statute text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.

Sources & verification

The Texas rules on this page were verified against the statute text itself:

  • Texas Property Code § 92.103
  • Texas Property Code § 92.109

Last verified against primary sources on .

How we verify this →

Laws change. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@gettenantshield.com and we'll correct it.

What you get for $39.

A professional demand letter

Properly formatted, addressed to your landlord by name, citing the exact Texas statutes that apply to your situation.

Specific statute citations

Texas Property Code § 92.103, § 92.109, and any others triggered by your circumstances — not generic legalese.

Calculated penalty math

The letter computes the exact dollar amount you're entitled to demand based on your deposit and the deductions at issue.

Ready-to-send PDF

Download instantly, print, sign, and send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.

Ready to get your deposit back?

Most Texas landlords return the deposit within days of receiving a properly drafted demand letter.

Generate my letter — $39