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Hewitt is a suburban city in McLennan County, situated just south of Waco along the I-35 corridor. The city has grown steadily as part of the greater Waco metropolitan area, and a meaningful share of Hewitt residents rent their homes. Like all Texas renters, Hewitt tenants rely entirely on state law for their housing protections — there are no separate city ordinances governing rent, deposits, or evictions beyond what the Texas Legislature has established.
The most common questions Hewitt renters have involve security deposit returns, what notice a landlord must give before ending a lease, how to force a landlord to make repairs, and what to do if a landlord retaliates for a legitimate complaint. All of these are addressed under the Texas Property Code, which applies uniformly across the state including in Hewitt and McLennan County.
This page summarizes the key Texas tenant protections that apply to Hewitt renters and points you toward organizations that can help if a dispute arises. This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed Texas attorney or a free legal aid organization.
Hewitt has no rent control, and Texas state law prohibits any city or county from enacting rent control. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, municipalities and counties in Texas are expressly forbidden from adopting ordinances that control the price of rent. This preemption applies statewide, meaning no Texas city — including Hewitt — can limit how much a landlord may charge or by how much rent may increase.
In practice, this means your landlord can raise your rent by any dollar amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenancies, with appropriate advance written notice. There is no cap on rent increases in Hewitt, no requirement that a landlord justify an increase, and no city agency that reviews or approves rent hikes. Renters should carefully review their lease before signing and budget for the possibility of increases at renewal time.
Although Hewitt has no local ordinances, Texas state law provides several important protections for renters throughout the state, including in McLennan County.
Habitability & Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords in Texas are legally required to make repairs that materially affect a tenant's physical health or safety. To trigger this obligation, you must give your landlord written notice of the problem and allow a reasonable amount of time — generally interpreted as at least 7 days — to make the repair. If the landlord fails to act, you may have the right to repair-and-deduct (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), terminate the lease, or seek judicial remedies. The repair-and-deduct remedy is only available if you are current on rent and not in violation of the lease.
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 full month's written notice before terminating the tenancy. You are entitled to the same notice period if you wish to end the tenancy. Fixed-term leases end on the date specified in the lease unless renewed.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord cannot retaliate against a tenant for in good faith requesting repairs, contacting a housing inspector, filing a complaint with a government agency, or exercising any other legal right. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising the rent, reducing services, threatening eviction, or filing an eviction lawsuit. If a landlord retaliates within 6 months of a protected act, the tenant may be entitled to a month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney's fees under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord may not change the locks, remove doors or windows, or interrupt utilities (electricity, water, gas) to force a tenant out without first obtaining a court order. If your landlord illegally locks you out, you may be entitled to actual damages, one month's rent plus $500, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Texas law governs all aspects of security deposits for Hewitt rentals. There is no statutory cap on how much a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Texas — the amount is set by the lease agreement.
Return Deadline (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103): After you vacate the rental unit, your landlord must return your security deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days. The clock starts on the date you surrender the property (return the keys and vacate).
Itemization Requirement (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.104): Any deductions from the deposit must be for actual damages beyond normal wear and tear, or for other charges specifically permitted by the lease. The landlord must provide a written statement describing each deduction and its dollar amount. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109): If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit in bad faith, you may be entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. To protect your rights, document the condition of the unit when you move in and out (photos/video), provide a forwarding address in writing, and keep copies of all communications with your landlord.
Texas law sets out a specific process that Hewitt landlords must follow to legally remove a tenant. Skipping any step can invalidate the eviction.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005): Before filing an eviction lawsuit, the landlord must first deliver a written notice to vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is 3 days (unless the lease specifies a longer period). For other lease violations, the notice period may vary. The notice may be delivered in person, posted on the inside of the main entry door, or sent by certified mail.
Step 2 — Filing a Forcible Detainer Suit (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.004): If you do not vacate by the deadline in the notice, the landlord may file an eviction (forcible detainer) lawsuit in the Justice of the Peace Court for McLennan County Precinct 1 (which covers Hewitt). You will be served with a citation and given a court date, typically within 10–21 days of filing.
Step 3 — Justice Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a Justice of the Peace. If the judge rules for the landlord, a judgment for possession is entered. You then have 5 days to appeal to the County Court at Law if you wish to contest the ruling (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.9).
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed and you do not vacate voluntarily after judgment, the landlord may request a writ of possession authorizing a constable to remove you and your belongings from the property.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): At no point in this process may a landlord lock you out, remove doors, cut off utilities, or otherwise attempt to remove you without a court order and constable enforcement. Such actions are illegal and entitle you to damages as described above.
Just Cause: Texas does not require landlords to have just cause to terminate a tenancy or decline to renew a lease. However, the landlord must still follow proper notice requirements and cannot act in retaliation for protected tenant activity under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
The information on this page is provided for general educational 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. Renters in Hewitt, Texas should verify current statutes with the Texas Legislature's official website (statutes.capitol.texas.gov) or consult a licensed Texas attorney or qualified legal aid organization before taking action based on this information. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and cannot provide legal representation or advice.
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