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Corsicana is the county seat of Navarro County in North Central Texas, with a population of roughly 23,000 residents. A significant share of Corsicana households are renters, and the city's relatively affordable housing market still sees questions about landlord obligations, security deposit returns, and eviction procedures on a regular basis.
Texas state law governs virtually all landlord-tenant relationships in Corsicana. The Texas Property Code provides renters with meaningful rights around habitability, repair requests, security deposits, retaliation protection, and the eviction process — even though rent increases are completely unregulated. Corsicana has not enacted any local tenant-protection ordinances beyond what the state requires.
This page summarizes the laws most relevant to Corsicana renters. It is intended as general, informational guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, contact a licensed Texas attorney or a free legal aid organization serving Navarro County.
There is no rent control in Corsicana, and no city or county in Texas may enact one. Texas law explicitly preempts local governments from adopting any ordinance that controls the price of rent. The governing statute is Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, which states that a municipality may not adopt a rent control ordinance or other measure that would regulate the amount of rent charged for privately owned residential property.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Corsicana can raise your rent by any dollar amount at the end of a lease term or, on a month-to-month tenancy, with at least one month's written notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. There is no cap on how large an increase can be, and no requirement that the landlord justify the increase. The only protection renters have against a rent increase is the anti-retaliation provision: a landlord cannot raise rent specifically in response to a tenant exercising a legal right, such as requesting repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331).
The following Texas state-law protections apply to every residential rental in Corsicana:
Habitability & Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords must maintain the rental in a condition that materially affects the health or safety of an ordinary tenant. If a repair is needed, you must give written notice to the landlord. If the landlord fails to make the repair within a reasonable time (generally 7 days for urgent issues), you may have the right to terminate the lease, seek a court-ordered repair, or use the repair-and-deduct remedy — up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent — after following the statutory notice procedure.
Security Deposit Rules (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Landlords must return your deposit within 30 days of move-out along with a written, itemized list of any deductions. Wrongful withholding exposes the landlord to liability for three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney's fees.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): Either party must give at least one month's written notice to end a month-to-month lease. The notice period may be modified by a written lease but cannot be less than the rent payment interval.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant by raising rent, reducing services, filing an eviction, or taking other adverse action because the tenant in good faith requested repairs, complained to a housing authority, or exercised any right under the lease or state law. A retaliatory act within six months of a protected action creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord cannot change locks, remove doors or windows, or intentionally interrupt utility service to force a tenant out. Violations entitle the tenant to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief.
Texas law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit in Corsicana. However, once you move out, the landlord has strict obligations under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109.
Return deadline: The landlord must return your security deposit — or the remaining balance after lawful deductions — within 30 days of the date you surrender the premises (vacate and return keys). Along with any withheld amount, the landlord must provide a written, itemized statement describing each deduction and its dollar amount.
Lawful deductions are limited to unpaid rent and actual damages beyond normal wear and tear. A landlord may not deduct for ordinary wear and tear to the property.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord in bad faith retains all or part of your deposit without providing the required itemized statement, or makes deductions that are not lawfully permitted, you may sue and recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus reasonable attorney's fees under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109.
Practical tip: Document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out with dated photos, and provide your landlord with a forwarding address in writing to start the 30-day clock running.
Evictions in Corsicana follow the Texas eviction (forcible entry and detainer) process governed by Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.001–24.011 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. A landlord must follow every step; there are no shortcuts.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing in court, the landlord must give the tenant a written notice to vacate. For non-payment of rent, the minimum notice is 3 days unless the lease specifies a different period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For month-to-month tenancies being terminated, 1 month's notice is required under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. Notice may be delivered in person, posted on the inside of the main entry door, or sent by mail.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: If the tenant does not vacate by the deadline, the landlord files an eviction petition in the Navarro County Justice Court for the precinct where the property is located. The filing fee is typically under $100.
Step 3 — Hearing: The court schedules 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 sides may present evidence. Tenants have the right to appear and contest the eviction.
Step 4 — Judgment & Writ of Possession: If the landlord wins, the tenant has 5 days to appeal to the County Court at Law. If no appeal is filed, the landlord may request a writ of possession, authorizing a constable to remove the tenant and their property.
Just Cause: Texas does not require a landlord to have just cause to evict at the end of a lease term. However, as noted above, retaliatory evictions are prohibited under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord cannot remove a tenant by changing locks, removing doors, or shutting off utilities. Doing so violates Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 and exposes the landlord to significant monetary liability.
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 specific facts of your situation may affect how the law applies to you. For advice about your individual circumstances, consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a free legal aid organization serving Navarro County. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for any actions taken in reliance on it.
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