Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Forney, located in Kaufman County just east of Dallas, has experienced explosive residential growth over the past decade, attracting thousands of new renters as the Dallas–Fort Worth metro expands eastward. As more residents rent homes and apartments in this rapidly developing community, understanding your legal rights as a tenant becomes increasingly important.
Tenant rights in Forney are governed entirely by Texas state law. The City of Forney has not enacted any local housing ordinances that go beyond what state law requires. That means the Texas Property Code is your primary legal resource for questions about security deposits, repairs, eviction procedures, and landlord retaliation. State law does provide meaningful protections in each of these areas.
This page summarizes those protections in plain language with specific statutory citations so you can understand where you stand. This content is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal dispute, consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Forney has no rent control, and Texas state law prohibits it. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, no city or county in Texas may enact an ordinance that controls the price of rent for residential housing. This statewide preemption means Forney — and every other Texas municipality — is legally barred from adopting rent stabilization or rent control measures, regardless of local housing conditions or rental market pressure.
In practice, this means your landlord in Forney can raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they give you proper advance written notice before the increase takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, that notice period is at least one calendar month under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. For tenants with a fixed-term lease, the rent is locked in for the duration of the lease term — your landlord cannot raise it mid-lease unless your lease contract explicitly allows for it.
There is no cap on how large a rent increase can be, and there is no requirement that landlords justify or explain rent increases. The best protection against sudden increases is a fixed-term lease that clearly states your rent for the full lease period.
Although Forney 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): Texas law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit, but it strictly governs how and when it must be returned. Landlords must return your 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 in bad faith, you may be entitled to three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109.
Habitability & 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 to your landlord. If the landlord fails to repair within a reasonable time, you may have the right to terminate the lease, hire a repair person and deduct the cost from rent (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), or pursue other remedies through Justice of the Peace Court.
Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): If you rent month-to-month, your landlord must provide at least one month's written notice before terminating your tenancy. You are entitled to the same notice period if you wish to end the tenancy. This notice requirement cannot be waived by lease language that reduces it below the statutory minimum.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): Your landlord is prohibited from retaliating against you for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs, reporting a code violation, or contacting a housing authority. Retaliation can include rent increases, service reductions, eviction threats, or lease non-renewal. If retaliation occurs within six months of a protected action, it is presumed retaliatory under Texas law, and you may be entitled to damages.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): A landlord may not lock you out of your home, remove exterior doors or windows, or interrupt utilities such as electricity or water in order to force you to vacate — except through a lawful eviction process. Violations entitle the tenant to re-entry, one month's rent or $500 (whichever is greater), attorney's fees, and other damages.
Texas law governs security deposits for Forney rentals under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101 through 92.109. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit in Texas, so the amount is determined by your lease agreement.
Return deadline: Your landlord must return your security deposit — or the unreturned balance along with a written, itemized description of each deduction — within 30 days after you surrender the premises (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). The itemized statement must describe each deduction and explain the basis for it.
Condition for return: You must provide your landlord with a forwarding address in writing. If you do not provide a forwarding address, the 30-day clock does not start, though your landlord still cannot permanently keep the deposit — they must return it within 30 days of receiving your address.
Penalties for wrongful withholding: If your landlord retains your deposit in bad faith and without a valid basis, you may sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus attorney's fees under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109. Texas courts have consistently interpreted this as a meaningful penalty to deter improper withholding.
Normal wear and tear: Landlords may not deduct for normal wear and tear — only for damages beyond ordinary use. Documenting your unit's condition with dated photographs at move-in and move-out is strongly recommended.
Evictions in Forney follow the Texas eviction process set out in the Texas Property Code and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Self-help eviction — such as changing locks, removing doors, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 and entitles you to significant remedies.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005): Before filing for eviction, a landlord must deliver a written notice to vacate. For non-payment of rent, the default notice period is 3 days, unless the lease specifies a different period. For month-to-month tenancies, the landlord must give at least 1 month's notice to terminate the tenancy under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 before beginning eviction proceedings. Notice may be delivered in person, by mail, or by posting on the inside of the main entry door.
Step 2 — Filing a Forcible Entry & Detainer Suit: If you do not vacate after the notice period, the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit (called a Forcible Entry & Detainer or FED suit) in the Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Court. You will be served with a citation and a court hearing date, typically scheduled 10–21 days after filing.
Step 3 — The Hearing: Both you and your landlord may present evidence at the hearing. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is entered. You have 5 days to appeal to the County Court at Law (Tex. Rules Civ. Proc. Rule 510.9). Filing a cash bond or sworn statement of inability to pay pauses the eviction pending appeal.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed and the landlord prevails, the court issues a Writ of Possession no sooner than 6 days after judgment, authorizing the constable to remove you and your belongings from the property.
Just Cause: Texas does not require landlords to have just cause to evict a tenant after a lease term ends or proper notice is given. However, evictions taken in retaliation for protected tenant activities are illegal 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 specific facts of your situation may affect your legal rights and remedies. Always verify current laws and consult a licensed Texas attorney or a qualified legal aid organization before taking action. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by using this site.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.