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Canyon is a small city in Randall County in the Texas Panhandle, home to West Texas A&M University and a growing student and workforce renter population. With a student-heavy rental market, Canyon renters frequently search for information about security deposit returns, lease termination rights, and what to do when landlords fail to make repairs.
All tenant protections in Canyon come from Texas state law — specifically the Texas Property Code. Canyon has enacted no local tenant rights ordinances beyond what the state requires. This means your rights as a renter in Canyon are defined entirely by state statute, and understanding those statutes is essential to protecting yourself.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may require guidance from a licensed attorney or a legal aid organization.
Canyon has no rent control, and no city in Texas can enact rent control. Texas state law explicitly preempts all local rent control ordinances. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, a municipality or county may not enact, enforce, or maintain an ordinance or policy that controls the price of rent charged for residential property. This prohibition applies statewide, including Canyon and Randall County.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Canyon can raise your rent by any amount — there is no cap, no percentage limit, and no requirement to justify the increase. The only meaningful protection is the notice requirement: for month-to-month leases, 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, rent cannot be changed mid-lease unless the lease itself permits it.
If you receive a rent increase notice, review your lease carefully to understand your options. You may have the right to give notice and vacate before the higher rent takes effect.
Although Canyon has no local tenant ordinances, Texas state law provides several important protections for renters throughout the state.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Landlords must return your security deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days of you surrendering the property. If a landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit, you may be entitled to three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees.
Habitability and Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords are required to make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant. After you provide written notice, the landlord has a reasonable time — typically interpreted as 7 days for urgent issues — to make the repair. If they fail to act, you may have the right to repair-and-deduct (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent) or to terminate the lease without penalty.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For a month-to-month tenancy, either the landlord or tenant must give at least one month's written notice before terminating. This notice period may be modified by a written lease agreement.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): Your landlord cannot retaliate against you for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs, reporting code violations to a housing inspector, or joining a tenants' organization. Retaliation can take the form of rent increases, service reductions, or threats of eviction. If retaliation occurs within six months of a protected action, the law presumes the landlord acted in bad faith.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): A landlord may not change your locks, remove doors or windows, or interrupt utility service to force you to leave. Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. If your landlord locks you out without a court order, you have the right to recover possession and may be entitled to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, and attorney's fees.
Texas law does not set a maximum limit on the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit in Canyon or anywhere else in the state. Landlords may charge whatever amount the market or the lease specifies.
Return Deadline: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103, a landlord must return your security deposit no later than 30 days after you surrender the dwelling — meaning you return the keys and vacate the unit. The landlord must also provide a written, itemized description of any deductions from the deposit.
Forwarding Address: To trigger the 30-day deadline, you should provide your landlord with a written forwarding address. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107, if you fail to provide a forwarding address, the landlord's obligation to return the deposit is not due until they receive that address.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If your landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit in bad faith, Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109 entitles you to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus reasonable attorney's fees. A landlord who retains a deposit without providing an itemized statement within the 30-day window is presumed to have acted in bad faith.
Normal Wear and Tear: Landlords may not deduct for normal wear and tear — only for actual damages beyond ordinary use. Document the condition of your unit at move-in and move-out with dated photographs to protect your deposit.
Evictions in Canyon follow the Texas eviction process governed by Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.001–24.011 (the Forcible Entry and Detainer statutes) and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Texas does not require just cause for eviction — a landlord may choose not to renew a lease or may terminate a month-to-month tenancy with proper notice, without providing a reason.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must give the tenant written notice. For non-payment of rent, this is typically a 3-day notice to pay or vacate (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For lease violations or termination of a month-to-month tenancy, the required notice period is at least one month unless the lease specifies otherwise (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). Notice must be delivered in person, by mail, or posted on the inside of the main entry door.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: If the tenant does not comply, the landlord may file an eviction suit (called a forcible detainer) in the Justice of the Peace Court in the precinct where the property is located. In Canyon, this would be the appropriate Randall County Justice of the Peace Court.
Step 3 — Hearing: The court will schedule a hearing no sooner than 10 days and no later than 21 days after the petition is filed (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.4). Both parties may present evidence. Tenants have the right to appear and defend themselves.
Step 4 — Judgment and Writ of Possession: If the judge rules for the landlord, the tenant has 5 days to vacate or appeal to the County Court at Law. If no appeal is filed, the landlord may request a writ of possession, which authorizes a constable or sheriff to remove the tenant.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, a landlord may never lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities to force you to leave — even if you owe rent. Only a constable or sheriff acting under a court-issued writ of possession may remove a tenant. Violations entitle the tenant to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, and attorney's fees.
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 dispute or legal question, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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