Last updated: April 2026
Laredo renters are protected by Texas state law on security deposits, habitability, and eviction procedures. There is no rent control in Laredo or anywhere in Texas — here is what that means for you.
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Laredo is the largest inland port city on the U.S.–Mexico border and one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. Located in Webb County along the Rio Grande, Laredo has a substantial renter population — many of whom are working families, border-commerce workers, and students at Texas A&M International University. Renters in Laredo most commonly ask about their rights around security deposit returns, what happens when a landlord refuses to make repairs, and whether there are any local rent control protections.
All tenant rights in Laredo are governed entirely by Texas state law. The Texas Property Code provides meaningful protections on habitability, security deposits, anti-retaliation, and the eviction process. However, Texas state law explicitly bars any city or county — including Laredo and Webb County — from enacting rent control ordinances, meaning landlords can raise rents without a legal cap.
This page is a plain-language summary of the laws that apply to Laredo renters. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, contact a licensed attorney or a legal aid organization in your area.
Laredo has no rent control, and no Texas city does. Texas state law expressly prohibits cities, counties, and other local governments from adopting or enforcing any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential property. This prohibition is codified at Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Laredo can raise your rent by any amount — there is no percentage cap and no requirement to justify the increase. The only requirement is that the landlord give you proper advance notice before the increase takes effect. For a month-to-month lease, that means at least one month's written notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. For a fixed-term lease, the rent cannot be raised until the lease term expires, unless the lease itself allows mid-term increases.
If you receive a rent increase notice, you have the right to accept the new terms, negotiate with your landlord, or give notice and vacate by the end of the current rental period. Because there is no state or local agency that reviews or approves rent increases in Texas, your main recourse is to exercise your market and contractual rights carefully.
Although Laredo has no local tenant ordinances, the Texas Property Code gives Laredo renters several enforceable protections:
Habitability & Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Your landlord is legally required to make repairs that materially affect your health or safety within a reasonable time after you submit a written repair request. If the landlord fails to act, you may have the right to pursue remedies including terminating the lease, reducing rent, or using the repair-and-deduct remedy — which allows you to hire a contractor and deduct costs up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent from your rent payment. Proper written notice and compliance with the statutory procedure are required before exercising these remedies.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Landlords must return your security deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days of your move-out date. Unjustified withholding can expose the landlord to liability for three times the deposit amount plus attorney's fees.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For month-to-month tenancies, the landlord must give at least one month's written notice before terminating the rental agreement. Tenants must give the same notice to the landlord.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): A landlord may not retaliate against you for exercising a legal right — including requesting repairs, filing a complaint with a housing inspector, or contacting a government agency. Prohibited retaliatory actions include raising rent, reducing services, or attempting eviction within six months of a protected act. If retaliation is proven, you may be entitled to one month's rent plus $500 in damages, plus attorney's fees.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord cannot change the locks, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities to force you out. Doing so without a court order subjects the landlord to a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $1,000, plus attorney's fees. If this happens to you, you can apply to a justice court for an immediate writ of re-entry.
Texas law governs security deposits for all Laredo rentals under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101 through 92.109. Key rules include:
No statutory cap: Texas does not limit how much a landlord can charge as a security deposit. The amount is set by the lease agreement.
30-day return deadline: After you vacate, your landlord has 30 days to return your deposit. If deductions are made, the landlord must include a written, itemized statement describing each deduction and its dollar amount. The itemized list and any remaining deposit must be sent to your forwarding address. If you did not provide a forwarding address, the landlord's timeline begins when one is provided.
Conditions for deductions: A landlord may only deduct for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, or other amounts you owe under the lease. Routine wear and tear — such as minor scuffs on walls or carpet worn from normal use — cannot be deducted.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord in bad faith retains all or part of your deposit, you may sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus reasonable attorney's fees under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109. The landlord bears the burden of proving that any retention was made in good faith.
Practical tip: Document the condition of the unit with photos or video at move-in and move-out, and send your written move-out notice and forwarding address by certified mail to create a clear paper trail.
Evictions in Laredo follow the Texas eviction process set out in Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.001–24.011 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Landlords must follow every step — shortcuts are illegal.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing in court, the landlord must deliver a written notice to vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is 3 days unless the lease specifies a longer period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For lease violations or month-to-month terminations without cause, at least 1 month's written notice is typically required (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). Notice may be delivered in person, posted on the inside of the main entry door, or sent by regular and certified mail.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: If you do not vacate by the deadline, the landlord may file an eviction (forcible detainer) suit in the Justice of the Peace Court for Webb County Precinct 1 in Laredo. A hearing is typically scheduled within 10–21 days of filing.
Step 3 — The Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant have the right to appear and present their case. You may raise defenses such as improper notice, retaliation, or the landlord's failure to maintain the unit. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, you generally have 5 days to appeal to the County Court at Law before a writ of possession is issued.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed and you have not vacated, the court issues a writ of possession, authorizing a constable to remove you and your belongings. Only a constable — not the landlord — may carry out a court-ordered removal.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, a landlord in Laredo cannot lock you out, remove your belongings, shut off electricity, water, or gas, or otherwise interfere with your possession outside of the court process. Violations entitle you to a writ of re-entry from the justice court and civil damages of one month's rent plus $1,000, plus attorney's fees.
No. Laredo has no rent control ordinance, and Texas state law prohibits any city or county from enacting one (Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902). This means there is no legal cap on how much your landlord can raise your rent in Laredo. Landlords are free to charge any amount the market will bear, provided they give you proper advance notice before a new rate takes effect.
There is no limit on rent increases in Laredo or anywhere in Texas. For a month-to-month lease, your landlord must give you at least one month's written notice before a rent increase takes effect (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). For a fixed-term lease, the rent generally cannot be raised until the lease term ends unless the lease itself contains a rent-increase clause. Once your lease expires, your landlord can propose any new rent amount.
Your landlord must return your security deposit — along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions — within 30 days of your move-out date (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107). If the landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit in bad faith, you can sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus $100 and attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Make sure to provide your landlord with a forwarding address in writing to start the clock.
For nonpayment of rent, Texas law requires a minimum of 3 days' written notice to vacate before the landlord can file an eviction suit, unless your lease specifies a longer period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For a month-to-month tenancy being terminated without cause, at least one month's written notice is required (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). The landlord must then file in Justice of the Peace Court — you cannot be removed without a court order and a constable-executed writ of possession.
No. Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, a landlord cannot change your locks, remove doors or windows, or interrupt your electricity, gas, or water service to force you out. If your landlord does any of these things, you can apply to the Justice of the Peace Court for a writ of re-entry and sue for civil damages equal to one month's rent plus $1,000, plus attorney's fees. Act quickly — the court can issue emergency relief.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056, your landlord must repair conditions that materially affect your health or safety after you give written notice. If the landlord fails to act within a reasonable time (generally 7 days after written notice), you may be entitled to terminate the lease, seek a rent reduction, or use the repair-and-deduct remedy — hiring a contractor and deducting costs up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent from your next rent payment. You must follow the statutory procedure precisely, and you cannot have caused the problem yourself. Contact Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (trla.org) for help navigating this process.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and their application depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe is not a law firm, and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading this page. If you have a specific legal dispute with your landlord or need advice about your rights, please consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a legal aid organization such as Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. Always verify current statutes and local rules, as laws may have changed since this page was last updated in April 2026.
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