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Farmers Branch is a mid-size city in Dallas County with a growing rental market, situated in the heart of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Like all Texas municipalities, Farmers Branch operates entirely under the Texas Property Code when it comes to landlord-tenant law — the city has not enacted any local tenant protections or rent stabilization measures beyond what state law requires.
Renters in Farmers Branch most commonly have questions about security deposit returns, their landlord's obligation to make repairs, and what the eviction process looks like. Texas law addresses all of these issues and provides meaningful — though limited — protections for tenants. Understanding these rights is the first step toward enforcing them.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change and individual circumstances vary. If you are facing an eviction, a dispute over your deposit, or unsafe housing conditions, consider reaching out to a qualified legal aid organization or attorney in Dallas County.
Rent control is prohibited in Farmers Branch and throughout the entire state of Texas. Texas Property Code § 214.902 explicitly preempts any city or county from adopting a rent control ordinance, meaning no local government — including Farmers Branch or Dallas County — has the legal authority to cap rent increases or limit how much a landlord may charge.
In practical terms, this means your landlord may raise your rent by any amount when your lease term ends or, for month-to-month tenants, with at least one month's written notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. There is no cap on the size of the increase, no requirement that the landlord justify the raise, and no city agency that reviews or approves rent hikes. Renters in Farmers Branch have no local recourse if they believe a rent increase is excessive — the only protections available are those found in state law and in your individual lease agreement.
If a landlord raises your rent specifically in retaliation for requesting repairs or contacting a housing inspector, that is separately prohibited under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331, which is discussed in the state protections section below.
Texas state law provides several important protections for renters in Farmers Branch. The following covers the most significant rights under the Texas Property Code.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Landlords must return your security deposit — along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions — within 30 days after you vacate the dwelling. If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit in bad faith, you may be entitled to recover three times the wrongfully withheld amount, plus $100, attorney's fees, and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). There is no statutory cap on the deposit amount a landlord may charge.
Repairs & Habitability (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords in Texas must make repairs that materially affect a tenant's health or safety within a reasonable time after receiving written notice from the tenant. If your landlord fails to act, you may have the right to: (1) terminate the lease, (2) have the repair made and deduct the cost from rent (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), or (3) pursue other remedies through Justice of the Peace court. You must be current on rent and have given proper written notice to exercise most of these remedies.
Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): If you rent on a month-to-month basis, your landlord must provide at least one month's written notice before terminating the tenancy. You are entitled to the same notice period before vacating. Lease terms may specify a longer notice period, in which case the lease controls.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): Your landlord is prohibited from retaliating against you for: filing a complaint with a government agency, requesting repairs, joining a tenant organization, or exercising any right provided by law. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising your rent, reducing services, threatening eviction, or actually filing an eviction lawsuit. A presumption of retaliation arises if the landlord takes adverse action within six months of your protected activity (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.332).
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. Your landlord cannot change your locks, remove doors or windows, or interrupt your utilities — including water, electricity, and gas — as a method of forcing you to vacate. If your landlord illegally locks you out, you may obtain an immediate writ from a Justice of the Peace court, and the landlord may owe you actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Texas does not impose a statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Farmers Branch. Your landlord may require any deposit amount, but once collected, the deposit is governed strictly by Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109.
Return Deadline: After you surrender the dwelling — meaning you have moved out and returned your keys — your landlord has 30 days to either return your full deposit or provide you with a written, itemized list of deductions along with any remaining balance. The 30-day clock starts from the date you vacate, not the end of your lease term (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103).
Itemized Statement Requirement: The written statement must describe each deduction and the amount. Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from your deposit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.104). Landlords may only deduct for actual damages beyond normal wear, unpaid rent, or other charges specifically authorized in the lease.
Penalties for Wrongful Withholding: If your landlord retains your deposit in bad faith — without a written itemized statement or without a legitimate basis — you may sue in Justice of the Peace court and recover: (1) three times the amount wrongfully withheld, (2) a $100 penalty, (3) attorney's fees, and (4) court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). To preserve your rights, provide your landlord with your forwarding address in writing when you move out; failure to do so may limit the time the landlord has to return your deposit.
Eviction in Farmers Branch follows the Texas eviction process governed by Tex. Prop. Code Chapter 24 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Texas does not require just cause for eviction at the end of a lease term or with proper notice on a month-to-month tenancy.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing for eviction, your landlord must provide written notice to vacate. For nonpayment 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, at least one month's notice is required (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). Lease violations other than nonpayment may require a different notice period depending on your lease terms.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice of the Peace Court: If you do not vacate after the notice period expires, your landlord may file a forcible detainer lawsuit (eviction suit) at the Dallas County Justice of the Peace Court covering Farmers Branch. You will receive a citation notifying you of the hearing date, typically set within 10 to 21 days of filing.
Step 3 — Hearing: You have the right to appear and present a defense at the hearing. Common defenses include improper notice, retaliation, habitability issues, or payment of rent. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor and you do not appeal within 5 days, the landlord may request a writ of possession to have a constable remove you.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: A constable — not the landlord — is the only party authorized to physically remove a tenant. The constable must give you at least 24 hours' notice before executing the writ (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.0061).
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Your landlord cannot lock you out, remove your belongings, shut off utilities, or remove doors or windows to force you to leave without following the court process. These acts are prohibited by Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, and you may seek immediate relief from a Justice of the Peace as well as monetary damages.
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. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, unsafe housing conditions, or any other landlord-tenant legal matter in Farmers Branch or Dallas County, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the completeness, accuracy, or currentness of this information.
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