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Murphy, Texas is a rapidly expanding residential city in Collin County, situated roughly 20 miles northeast of downtown Dallas. The city's population has surged over the past two decades as families and professionals have relocated to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, driving strong demand for rental housing across single-family homes, townhomes, and apartment communities.
As a renter in Murphy, your tenant rights are governed entirely by Texas state law. Murphy has enacted no local rental ordinances beyond what the state requires, so understanding the Texas Property Code is the key to knowing your rights regarding security deposits, habitability, eviction procedures, and landlord retaliation. State law provides meaningful protections, even in the absence of rent control or local tenant ordinances.
This page summarizes the laws that apply to renters in Murphy, Texas. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Texas attorney or a nonprofit legal aid organization.
Murphy has no rent control, and no Texas city can legally enact it. Texas state law explicitly prohibits municipalities and counties from adopting rent control ordinances. Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902 states that a municipality may not adopt or enforce an ordinance that controls the price of rent charged for residential housing. This statewide preemption means there is no local option available — Murphy, Collin County, and every other Texas jurisdiction are barred from capping rent increases.
In practical terms, your landlord in Murphy may raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term, or with proper advance notice on a month-to-month tenancy, without legal restriction on the size of the increase. The only leverage tenants have is to negotiate directly with their landlord, decline to renew the lease, or move. There is no government agency in Murphy or Collin County with authority to review or limit rent increases.
Although Murphy has no local tenant ordinances, Texas law provides several important baseline protections for all renters statewide.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Texas law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit. However, landlords must return the deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days after you surrender possession of the unit. If the landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit in bad faith, you may sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus attorney's fees.
Repairs & Habitability (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords in Murphy must make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant within a reasonable time after receiving your written notice of the problem. If your landlord fails to act, Texas law may allow you to terminate the lease, pursue a rent reduction, or use the repair-and-deduct remedy (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), subject to specific procedural requirements including giving written notice twice in some circumstances.
Notice to Terminate (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For a month-to-month tenancy, either party must give at least one month's written notice before terminating the lease, unless the parties have agreed to a different notice period in writing. Fixed-term leases expire at the end of the term unless renewed.
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 code violations to a housing inspector, or filing a fair housing complaint. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, and attempting to evict you. Retaliation is presumed if adverse action occurs within six months of a protected activity.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord may not change your locks, remove doors or windows, or cut off your utilities (electricity, water, gas, heat, or A/C) to force you out. Eviction must proceed through the courts. If a landlord locks you out illegally, you have the right to regain entry and may recover actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Texas law governs security deposits for all Murphy rentals under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge — your landlord may set the deposit at whatever amount is stated in your lease.
Return deadline: Your landlord must return your security deposit, along with a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30 days after you surrender possession of the dwelling and provide your forwarding address. If you do not provide a forwarding address, the 30-day clock does not begin until your landlord receives it.
Permissible deductions include unpaid rent and damages beyond normal wear and tear. Your landlord may not deduct for routine wear that occurs through ordinary use of the property.
Penalties for wrongful withholding: If your landlord retains all or part of your deposit in bad faith — meaning without a valid reason and in violation of the statute — you are entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). A landlord who fails to provide the itemized deduction statement in good faith also risks losing the right to retain any portion of the deposit.
To protect yourself, document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with photos, keep copies of all written communications, and always provide your landlord with a written forwarding address when you vacate.
Evictions in Murphy follow the Texas eviction process set out in Tex. Prop. Code Chapter 24 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Texas does not require just cause for eviction — a landlord may decline to renew a lease or terminate a month-to-month tenancy with proper notice, for any lawful reason or no stated reason at all.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005): Before filing an eviction suit, your landlord must deliver a written notice to vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is 3 days unless your lease specifies a different period. For month-to-month tenancies being terminated, at least 1 month's notice is required (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). Notice may be delivered in person, by certified mail, or by posting on the inside of the main entry door.
Step 2 — Filing an Eviction Suit (Forcible Detainer): If you do not vacate after the notice period expires, your landlord may file a forcible detainer suit in the Collin County Justice of the Peace Court. You will receive written notice of the hearing date, which must be set no earlier than 10 days and no later than 21 days after the petition is filed.
Step 3 — Justice Court Hearing: Both parties may present evidence and testimony. If the judge rules for the landlord, a judgment for possession is entered. You have 5 days to appeal to the County Court at Law, which triggers a new trial. Filing a pauper's affidavit may allow you to appeal without paying a bond.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed or the appeal is decided against you, the court may issue a writ of possession, authorizing a constable to remove you and your belongings from the property.
Self-help eviction is illegal: At no point in this process may a landlord lock you out, remove your belongings, or cut off utilities to force you to leave. Doing so violates Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 and exposes the landlord to significant civil liability.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change through legislation, court decisions, and local ordinances. While we strive to keep this content accurate and up to date as of April 2026, we cannot guarantee its completeness or applicability to your specific circumstances. If you have questions about your individual situation, please consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area.
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