Current with legislation from the 2023 Regular and Special Sessions signed by the Governor as of November 21, 2023.
Section 94.251 - Retaliation By Landlord(a) A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant by taking an action described by Subsection (b) because the tenant:(1) in good faith exercises or attempts to exercise against a landlord a right or remedy granted to the tenant by the lease agreement, a municipal ordinance, or a federal or state statute;(2) gives the landlord a notice to repair or exercise a remedy under this chapter; or(3) complains to a governmental entity responsible for enforcing building or housing codes, a public utility, or a civic or nonprofit agency, and the tenant: (A) claims a building or housing code violation or utility problem; and(B) believes in good faith that the complaint is valid and that the violation or problem occurred.(b) A landlord may not, within six months after the date of the tenant's action under Subsection (a), retaliate against the tenant by:(1) filing an eviction proceeding, except for the grounds stated by Subchapter E;(2) depriving the tenant of the use of the premises, except for reasons authorized by law;(3) decreasing services to the tenant;(4) increasing the tenant's rent;(5) terminating the tenant's lease agreement; or(6) engaging, in bad faith, in a course of conduct that materially interferes with the tenant's rights under the tenant's lease agreement.Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 801, Sec. 1, eff. 4/1/2002.