Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Angleton is the county seat of Brazoria County, located roughly 45 miles south of Houston. As a mid-sized Texas city with a mix of single-family rentals, apartment complexes, and manufactured housing, Angleton renters deal with many of the same housing challenges common to the Greater Houston region — including rapid rent increases, questions about security deposit deductions, and concerns about habitability and repairs.
All tenant protections in Angleton come from Texas state law. The City of Angleton has not enacted any local tenant-protection ordinances beyond what the state requires, and Texas state law prohibits local governments from enacting rent control. This means understanding Texas's statutory framework — primarily found in the Texas Property Code — is essential for every renter in Angleton.
This page explains your key rights as an Angleton renter, including rules on deposits, habitability, eviction procedures, and retaliation protections. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal dispute, contact a licensed Texas attorney or a local legal aid organization.
Angleton has no rent control, and Texas law expressly forbids it. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, no municipality or county in Texas may enact or enforce any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for privately owned residential property. This statewide preemption applies to Angleton and every other city in Texas without exception.
In practical terms, this means your landlord can raise your rent by any amount — there is no cap, no percentage limit, and no required justification. The only constraint is timing: for month-to-month tenants, the landlord must provide at least one month's written notice before a rent increase takes effect (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). For fixed-term leases, your rent is locked at the agreed amount until the lease expires, at which point the landlord may set any new rate when offering a renewal.
Because rent increases can happen at any time with proper notice, Angleton renters should carefully review lease renewal terms and be aware of their right to negotiate or choose not to renew.
Texas law provides several meaningful protections for Angleton renters, even in the absence of local ordinances.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.111): Landlords must return your security deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days of you vacating the unit. If a landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit without a written statement, they can be liable for three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). There is no statutory cap on the deposit amount itself in Texas.
Habitability & Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords are required to make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant. To trigger this obligation, you must give written notice of the problem and allow a reasonable time for repair. If the landlord fails to act, you may have the right to terminate the lease, repair-and-deduct (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), or seek court-ordered repairs — provided you are current on rent and not in violation of your lease.
Notice to Terminate (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For month-to-month tenancies, either party must give at least one month's written notice to terminate the tenancy. Fixed-term leases end on the date specified in the lease unless both parties agree otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord may not increase your rent, reduce services, file an eviction, or threaten any of these actions in retaliation for good-faith activities such as requesting repairs, contacting a code enforcement officer, or exercising any right under the lease or state law. Retaliation within six months of a protected action creates a rebuttable presumption in your favor.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord cannot change your locks, remove doors or windows, or cut off your electricity, water, or gas to force you to leave. Violating this law entitles you to recover possession of the unit, one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney's fees.
Texas law governs security deposits for all Angleton rentals under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.111. There is no statutory maximum on how much a landlord may collect as a security deposit in Texas, so the amount is set by your lease agreement.
Return Deadline: After you move out, your landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit along with a written, itemized list of any deductions (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). The itemization must describe each deduction and the cost. If you provide a forwarding address in writing, the clock starts from the date you vacate; if you do not provide a forwarding address, the 30-day period begins when the landlord receives it.
Permissible Deductions: Landlords may deduct for unpaid rent, actual damages beyond normal wear and tear, and other lease-specified charges. They may not deduct for ordinary wear and tear to the unit.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If your landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit in bad faith — or fails to provide a timely written statement — you may be entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus $100 and reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). To protect your rights, always document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with dated photographs and written records.
Evictions in Angleton follow Texas state law, primarily governed by Tex. Prop. Code § 24.001 et seq. (the Forcible Entry and Detainer statutes) and processed through the Brazoria County Justice of the Peace courts.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing for eviction, the landlord must serve a written notice to vacate. For nonpayment of rent, Texas law requires at least a 3-day notice to vacate unless the lease specifies a different period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For lease violations or end of tenancy, the notice period may vary based on the lease terms and the type of tenancy. Month-to-month tenants are entitled to at least one month's notice to terminate the tenancy itself (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001).
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: If you do not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file an eviction (forcible detainer) suit in the Brazoria County Justice of the Peace court. You will be served with a citation and a hearing date, typically set within 10–21 days of filing.
Step 3 — Hearing & Judgment: Both parties present their case at the JP court hearing. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is issued. You have the right to appeal to the Brazoria County Court at Law within five days of the judgment (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.007), which may require posting a bond.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If you do not appeal or vacate after judgment, the landlord can request a writ of possession, allowing the constable to enforce removal no earlier than the sixth day after judgment (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.0061).
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord cannot remove your belongings, change your locks, or shut off utilities to force you out without a court order. Doing so violates Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 and entitles you to damages, one month's rent plus $500, and attorney's fees.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Texas does not require landlords to provide a reason for non-renewal of a lease or termination of a month-to-month tenancy. However, evictions done in retaliation for protected tenant activity are unlawful under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws in Texas can change, and the specific facts of your situation may affect which protections apply to you. Angleton renters with urgent housing issues — including eviction, lockout, or deposit disputes — should contact a licensed Texas attorney or a legal aid organization as soon as possible. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and cannot represent you or provide legal advice.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.