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El Campo is a small city in Wharton County, located in the Gulf Coast Plains region of Texas, with a population of roughly 11,000 residents. A notable share of El Campo households rent their homes, and like renters across the state, they rely entirely on Texas state law for their tenant protections — the city itself has enacted no local ordinances that go beyond what the state provides.
The questions El Campo renters most commonly have involve security deposit returns, what to do when a landlord refuses to fix something, how much notice is required before an eviction, and whether a landlord can raise rent without warning. This page answers each of those questions with specific citations to Texas law so you can understand exactly where you stand.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and every tenancy has unique facts. If you have a specific legal problem, contact a licensed Texas attorney or a local legal aid organization for guidance.
El Campo has no rent control, and Texas law makes it impossible for any city or county in the state to enact one. Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902 explicitly prohibits municipalities and counties from adopting or enforcing any ordinance or policy that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial rental property. This statewide preemption means no local government action — no city council vote, no ballot measure — can create rent stabilization protections for El Campo renters.
In practical terms, your landlord in El Campo may raise your rent by any dollar amount at the end of a lease term or upon proper notice for a month-to-month tenancy. There is no cap on increases, no required percentage ceiling, and no mandatory approval process. The only meaningful constraint is the notice requirement: for month-to-month tenants, a 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 is set by the lease itself and cannot be raised until the lease renews or expires.
Although Texas does not offer rent control, several important state-law protections apply to every renter in El Campo:
Security Deposit Rules (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Landlords must return your security deposit within 30 days after you surrender the property, accompanied by a written, itemized accounting of any deductions. Only lawful deductions — such as unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear — are permitted. If a landlord withholds your deposit in bad faith, you may recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109).
Habitability and Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Your landlord is legally 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 be current on your rent. If the landlord fails to repair within a reasonable time (generally 7 days after a second notice), 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.
Notice to Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): Either party may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by giving at least one month's written notice before the termination date. If a landlord fails to provide adequate notice, the notice period does not begin to run until proper notice is delivered.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord may not retaliate against you for in good faith exercising a legal right — including requesting repairs, filing a complaint with a housing authority, or joining a tenant organization. Prohibited retaliatory acts include rent increases, service reductions, or eviction proceedings initiated within six months of a protected action. A tenant who suffers retaliation may recover one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, attorney's fees, and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333).
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord may not change your locks, remove your doors or windows, or interrupt your utilities (electricity, water, gas) to force you out without obtaining a court order. If your landlord does any of these things, you have the right to recover possession, plus a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney's fees.
Texas does not cap the dollar amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit in El Campo, so your landlord may set any amount in the lease. However, once you move out, strict rules govern what happens to that money.
Return deadline: Your landlord must return your security deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days after you surrender possession of the unit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). Surrendering possession means returning the keys and vacating the premises.
Permitted deductions: A landlord may only deduct for unpaid rent, damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear, or other charges specifically authorized by the written lease. Deductions for ordinary cleaning or routine maintenance are generally not permitted.
Penalty for bad-faith withholding: If your landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit in bad faith, you may sue and recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus $100 plus reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Courts have interpreted bad faith broadly to include failing to return the deposit without a legitimate reason.
Your obligations: To preserve your deposit rights, you should provide your landlord with a written forwarding address after move-out (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107). A landlord is not required to return your deposit until they receive that address, though the 30-day clock typically begins at surrender of possession regardless.
In El Campo, the eviction process is governed entirely by Texas state law and must go through the courts — a landlord cannot remove you through self-help tactics.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005): Before filing for eviction, the landlord must give you a written Notice to Vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is 3 days unless your lease specifies a different period. For month-to-month lease terminations, at least one month's written notice is required (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). The notice must be delivered in person, by certified mail, or by posting on the inside of your front door.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice of the Peace Court: If you do not vacate or cure the issue within the notice period, the landlord may file an eviction suit (also called a forcible detainer action) in the Justice of the Peace Court for Wharton County Precinct 1. You will be served with a citation and a hearing date, typically set within 10–21 days of filing.
Step 3 — The Hearing: Both you and your landlord have the right to appear and present evidence at the hearing. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is entered. You then have 5 days to appeal to the County Court at Law if you disagree with the ruling (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.9).
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed and the judgment is not satisfied, the landlord may request a writ of possession, which directs a constable to remove you and your belongings from the property (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.0061).
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: At no point in this process may your landlord lock you out, remove your doors, disconnect your utilities, or physically remove your belongings without a court order. Doing so is a violation of Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, and you are entitled to recover possession plus a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney's fees.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Texas does not require landlords to have a specific reason (just cause) to decline to renew a lease or to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. However, the eviction process still requires proper notice and a court order, and a landlord cannot evict you in retaliation for exercising a legal right (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 in Texas — and any applicable local ordinances — may change after the publish date of this article. Every rental situation involves unique facts that may affect how the law applies to your case. If you have a specific legal problem or believe your rights have been violated, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation or advice.
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