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Ennis is a growing city of roughly 22,000 residents in Ellis County, located about 35 miles south of Dallas along the I-45 corridor. As the region's population expands and more people seek affordable housing outside the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, Ennis has seen increased demand for rental housing — making it more important than ever for tenants to understand their rights under Texas law.
There is no rent control in Ennis, and no local tenant ordinances beyond what the state requires. That means renters here rely entirely on the Texas Property Code for protections covering security deposits, habitability repairs, eviction procedures, retaliation, and illegal lockouts. The good news is that Texas law does provide meaningful safeguards in each of these areas, and knowing them can make a significant difference in a dispute with a landlord.
This page is a plain-language summary of the laws most relevant to Ennis renters, including specific statute citations so you can verify the rules yourself. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If your situation is complex or urgent, contact a licensed Texas attorney or a free legal aid organization.
Rent Control Status: Prohibited by State Law
Ennis has no rent control ordinance, and under Texas state law, it cannot adopt one. Texas Property Code § 214.902 expressly prohibits any municipality or county from enacting an ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial rental property. This preemption applies statewide, meaning no Texas city — regardless of size or housing market pressure — may cap rents, limit rent increases, or impose rent stabilization measures.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Ennis may raise your rent by any amount they choose, at any time, as long as they provide proper written notice before the change takes effect (generally at least 30 days for a month-to-month lease, or at the end of a fixed lease term). There is no ceiling on how large an increase can be. Renters facing steep rent hikes have no local or state agency that can intervene on price grounds.
The only meaningful check on rent increases in Texas is the anti-retaliation statute: a landlord cannot raise your rent specifically in response to you exercising a legal right, such as requesting repairs or filing a complaint with a housing inspector (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331). Outside of that narrow protection, market forces — not regulation — determine rental prices in Ennis.
Although Ennis has no local tenant ordinances, Texas state law provides several important protections that apply to every renter in the city.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109)
Landlords must return your security deposit within 30 days after you vacate the unit, along with a written, itemized list of any deductions. If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of the deposit in bad faith, you may be entitled to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus your actual damages and attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Texas does not cap the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit.
Habitability and Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056)
Landlords in Texas 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 needed repair and be current on rent. If the landlord fails to repair within a reasonable time (generally interpreted as seven days for urgent issues), you may have the right to (1) repair and deduct — hiring a contractor and deducting the cost from rent, up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent — or (2) terminate the lease and recover damages. Sending notice by certified mail creates a strong record.
Notice to Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001)
If you rent month-to-month, your landlord must give you at least one month's written notice before terminating your tenancy. You owe the landlord the same notice if you plan to move out. A fixed-term lease ends on the date specified in the lease without additional notice, unless either party chooses to renew.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331)
A landlord may not retaliate against you for reporting housing code violations, requesting repairs, contacting a government agency about habitability, or participating in a tenants' organization. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, filing an eviction, or threatening any of these actions. If retaliation occurs within six months of a protected act, the law presumes it was retaliatory (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333), and you may be entitled to one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney's fees.
Illegal Lockout and Utility Shutoff (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081)
Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord cannot lock you out of your unit, remove exterior doors or windows, or interrupt utility service to force you to leave without first obtaining a court order. If your landlord does any of these things, you have the right to recover possession of the unit, plus a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $1,000, actual damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Security Deposit Rules for Ennis Renters (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109)
Texas law does not set a maximum amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit, so Ennis landlords may ask for any amount they deem appropriate. However, once you pay a deposit, the law strictly governs how and when it must be returned.
Return Deadline: Your landlord must return your security deposit no later than 30 days after you surrender possession of the rental unit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). Surrender means you have physically vacated and returned the keys.
Itemized Statement Required: If the landlord makes any deductions, they must provide a written, itemized description of each deduction and the amount. This statement must accompany the returned deposit or be mailed to your forwarding address (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.104). Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted — only actual damage beyond ordinary use.
Forwarding Address: You must provide your landlord with a written forwarding address after you move out. The landlord's 30-day deadline does not begin until they receive that address (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord acts in bad faith by retaining your deposit without a valid basis, you may sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus actual damages, attorney's fees, and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Bad faith is presumed if the landlord fails to return the deposit or provide an itemized statement within 30 days.
Eviction Process for Ennis Renters (Ellis County)
Evictions in Ennis follow the Texas Property Code and are heard in Ellis County Justice of the Peace courts. Texas law sets specific notice requirements and procedural steps that a landlord must follow — skipping any step can result in the case being dismissed.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005): Before filing in court, the landlord must give you a written notice to vacate. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction and the lease terms, but the minimum is 3 days unless the lease specifies a longer period. Notice may be delivered in person, posted on the inside of the main entry door, or sent by certified mail. Common reasons include nonpayment of rent, lease violations, or expiration of the lease term.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice of the Peace Court: If you do not vacate after the notice period, the landlord may file a forcible detainer (eviction) lawsuit in the Justice of the Peace court for the precinct covering your address in Ellis County. You will be served with a citation and a hearing date, typically set 10 to 21 days after filing.
Step 3 — The Hearing: You have the right to appear at the hearing and present your defense. Common defenses include improper notice, retaliation, the landlord's failure to maintain the unit, or payment of overdue rent. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is entered.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: After judgment, you have five days to appeal to the County Court at Law. If no appeal is filed, the landlord may request a writ of possession, which authorizes a constable to remove you and your belongings (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.0061).
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: At no point in this process may a landlord lock you out, remove your doors or windows, or cut off your utilities to force you out. Doing so violates Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 and entitles you to one month's rent plus $1,000 in civil penalties, plus actual damages and attorney's fees.
No Just Cause Requirement: Texas does not require landlords to have a specific reason (just cause) to end a tenancy at the end of a lease term. With proper notice, a landlord may choose not to renew your lease without giving a reason, as long as the non-renewal is not retaliatory 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. RentCheckMe makes no guarantee that the information here is complete, current, or accurate for your circumstances. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal matter, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a free legal aid organization in your area. Do not rely solely on this page to make legal decisions.
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