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Bellmead is a small city in McLennan County, situated just northeast of Waco in Central Texas. With a significant share of its residents renting rather than owning, Bellmead tenants frequently have questions about what protections apply to them — particularly around rent increases, security deposit returns, and what a landlord can and cannot do when a dispute arises.
Because Bellmead has no municipal tenant protections beyond what Texas state law provides, renters here rely entirely on the Texas Property Code for their legal rights. The good news is that Texas law does provide meaningful protections: landlords must maintain habitable conditions, return deposits on time, give proper notice before ending a tenancy, and follow the court process before removing a tenant. Rent control, however, does not exist anywhere in Texas.
This page explains the tenant rights laws that apply in Bellmead as of April 2026. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you have a specific legal problem, contact a licensed Texas attorney or a local legal aid organization.
There is no rent control in Bellmead, Texas. Texas state law explicitly preempts any city or county from enacting rent control ordinances. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, a municipality or county may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or policy that controls the amount of rent charged for privately owned residential housing. This prohibition applies statewide — including McLennan County and the City of Bellmead — and leaves no room for local rent stabilization measures of any kind.
In practice, this means your landlord in Bellmead can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with proper written notice (at least one month under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). There is no cap on how much rents can increase, no requirement to justify a rent hike, and no government agency that regulates rental prices. The only leverage a tenant has is to negotiate with the landlord, find alternative housing, or — if a rent increase amounts to retaliation for exercising a legal right — invoke the anti-retaliation protections described below.
Although Bellmead has no local tenant ordinances, Texas state law provides a set of protections that apply to all residential renters in the city.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Texas law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit, but it does strictly regulate how deposits must be handled. Landlords must return your deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days after you vacate the unit. If a landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit in bad faith, you may sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109).
Habitability & Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords in Bellmead are legally required to make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant. To trigger this duty, you must give your landlord written notice of the problem. If the landlord fails to repair within a reasonable time (generally interpreted as 7 days for urgent issues), you may have the right to terminate the lease, repair-and-deduct (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), or pursue other legal remedies — provided you are current on rent and meet other statutory requirements.
Notice to Terminate (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For month-to-month tenancies, either the landlord or tenant must give at least one month's written notice before terminating the lease. If a fixed-term lease does not automatically convert to month-to-month, the landlord generally must give at least the notice period stated in the lease or the statutory minimum.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord cannot retaliate against you for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs, reporting a housing code violation to a government agency, or joining a tenant organization. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, or filing an eviction. If you face retaliation within six months of a protected act, a court may presume it is retaliatory.
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 disconnect your utilities to force you out. The only lawful way to remove a tenant is through the formal eviction process in a justice court. Violations entitle you to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, and attorney's fees.
Texas law governs security deposits for all Bellmead rental units under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may require as a security deposit in Texas, so the amount is set by the lease agreement.
Return deadline: After you vacate the unit, your landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit. If any portion is withheld, the landlord must provide a written, itemized statement of deductions. Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted.
Forwarding address: You must provide your landlord with a written forwarding address. The 30-day clock begins after you surrender the premises and give that address. Failure to provide a forwarding address does not forfeit the deposit, but it may affect your ability to sue.
Penalties for wrongful withholding: If a landlord withholds your deposit in bad faith — without a valid reason and without providing the required itemization — you may be entitled to sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Courts have held that simply failing to provide a written itemization is evidence of bad faith. Small claims cases for security deposits can be filed in McLennan County Justice Court.
Evictions in Bellmead follow the Texas eviction process governed primarily by Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.001–24.011 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Landlords must follow each step; shortcuts are illegal.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing in court, the landlord must give you a written Notice to Vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is 3 days unless the lease specifies a longer period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For other lease violations or a holdover tenancy, the notice period is also generally 3 days unless the lease states otherwise. Month-to-month tenants not in violation are entitled to at least one month's notice to terminate the tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001).
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: If you do not vacate by the deadline in the notice, the landlord may file an eviction suit (forcible detainer) in the McLennan County Justice Court for Precinct 1 (or the precinct covering Bellmead). You will be served with a citation and a hearing date, typically set 10–21 days after filing.
Step 3 — The Hearing: Both parties present their case before the justice of the peace. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, you have 5 days to appeal to the McLennan County Court at Law before the judgment becomes final and enforceable.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If you do not appeal or the appeal is unsuccessful, the landlord may obtain a Writ of Possession, which is enforced by the constable — not the landlord personally.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, a landlord may never lock you out, remove your belongings, or cut off utilities to force you out without a court order. Doing so entitles you to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, and attorney's fees. You may also obtain a court order requiring the landlord to restore your access immediately.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Texas does not require landlords to have just cause to refuse to renew a lease at the end of its term. At the expiration of a fixed-term lease, a landlord may decline to renew for any lawful reason with proper notice. However, non-renewal motivated by retaliation is prohibited under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. If you have a housing legal problem, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in McLennan County. RentCheckMe makes no warranties about the completeness or accuracy of this information, and you should independently verify the current state of the law before taking action.
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