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Princeton, Texas is a rapidly expanding city in Collin County, located about 35 miles northeast of Dallas. The city's population has grown dramatically in recent years due to new residential construction and affordability relative to nearby suburban markets, drawing a significant renter population seeking housing in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area. As more residents rent homes, townhomes, and apartments in Princeton, understanding your legal rights as a tenant becomes increasingly important.
Texas does not have rent control anywhere in the state, and Princeton has enacted no local tenant protections beyond what state law provides. However, the Texas Property Code does give renters meaningful protections covering security deposits, habitability and repairs, eviction procedures, retaliation, and illegal lockouts. These rights apply to every renter in Princeton regardless of lease type or property size.
This article summarizes the tenant rights that apply to Princeton renters under Texas law. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may require guidance from a qualified attorney or legal aid organization.
Princeton has no rent control, and Texas state law makes it illegal for any city or county to enact one. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, municipalities and counties in Texas are expressly prohibited from adopting ordinances, rules, or other measures that control the price of rent charged for private residential housing. This statewide preemption applies to Princeton just as it does to every other city in Texas.
In practice, this means your landlord in Princeton can raise your rent by any amount at lease renewal 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 how much rent can increase, no requirement that increases be justified, and no city agency that reviews or limits rent hikes. Renters in Princeton who receive a rent increase notice have the option to accept the new terms, negotiate with the landlord, or give proper notice to vacate.
While this environment places significant pricing power in landlords' hands, Texas law does require landlords to follow proper notice procedures and prohibits retaliatory rent increases. If your landlord raises your rent shortly after you exercised a legal right — such as requesting repairs or contacting a housing inspector — that increase may constitute illegal retaliation under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
The following Texas Property Code protections apply to all Princeton renters:
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Landlords in Texas are not capped on how much they may collect as a security deposit, but they must return the deposit — along with a written, itemized list of any deductions — within 30 days of the tenant vacating. If a landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit in bad faith, the tenant may sue for three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109.
Repairs & Habitability (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords must make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant within a reasonable time after receiving written notice. If the landlord fails to act, the tenant may have the right to: (1) terminate the lease; (2) use the repair-and-deduct remedy — hiring a repair professional and deducting the cost from rent, up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent; or (3) pursue civil remedies in court. The tenant must give a second written notice and wait an additional reasonable time before exercising 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 give you at least one month's written notice before terminating the tenancy. Similarly, a month-to-month tenant must give the same notice to the landlord. Fixed-term leases typically end at the lease expiration date without additional notice unless the lease requires it.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): It is unlawful for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for: requesting repairs, complaining to a government agency about code violations, exercising rights under the lease, or organizing with other tenants. Retaliatory conduct includes raising rent, reducing services, or attempting eviction. A presumption of retaliation arises if adverse action occurs within six months of the tenant's protected activity. Tenants harmed by retaliation may recover one 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 cannot change locks, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities (such as water, electricity, or gas) in order to force a tenant out without a court order. If a landlord engages in an illegal lockout, the tenant has the right to recover possession, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Texas law does not set a maximum limit on the amount a landlord in Princeton may charge as a security deposit. However, once you vacate the rental unit, your landlord has 30 days to either return your full deposit or mail you a written, itemized statement explaining each deduction, along with any remaining balance — per Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103.
Deductions are only permitted for unpaid rent and for damages beyond normal wear and tear. The landlord cannot deduct for routine cleaning, minor scuffs, or deterioration that results from ordinary use of the property. Texas courts have consistently held that deductions for normal wear and tear are improper.
If your landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days — and the failure is in bad faith — you may sue for three times the amount of the deposit wrongfully withheld, plus $100 and reasonable attorney's fees, under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109. To protect yourself, document your move-out condition thoroughly with dated photographs and videos, and provide your landlord with a forwarding address in writing so the 30-day clock begins running from the day you vacate.
Note: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107, if you fail to give your landlord a forwarding address, the landlord is not liable for failing to return the deposit until 30 days after you provide that address.
In Princeton, as throughout Texas, evictions are governed by the Texas Property Code and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Landlords must follow a specific legal process — they cannot simply remove a tenant or their belongings without a court order.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing an eviction lawsuit, a landlord must give the tenant a written Notice to Vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is 3 days unless the lease specifies a different period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For month-to-month tenancies being terminated without cause, at least 1 month's notice is required under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. The notice must be delivered in person, by mail, or by posting on the inside of the main entry door.
Step 2 — Filing an Eviction Suit (Forcible Detainer): If the tenant does not vacate by the deadline in the notice, the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit — called a forcible detainer action — in the Justice of the Peace (JP) court for the precinct where the rental property is located. In Princeton, this is a Collin County JP court. The court will schedule a hearing, typically within 10 to 21 days of filing.
Step 3 — The Hearing: Both parties may present evidence and testimony at the eviction hearing. If the judge rules in favor of the landlord, a Judgment for Possession is entered. The tenant has 5 days to appeal the judgment to the County Court at Law, which requires filing an appeal bond or a statement of inability to pay.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If no appeal is filed (or if the appeal is unsuccessful), the landlord may request a Writ of Possession from the JP court. This writ authorizes a constable to physically remove the tenant and their belongings from the premises. A constable — not the landlord — must execute the writ.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, landlords are strictly prohibited from locking out tenants, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out. Any landlord who engages in self-help eviction is liable to the tenant for one month's rent plus $1,000, actual damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Just Cause: Texas does not require landlords to have just cause to evict a tenant at the end of a lease term or with proper notice on a month-to-month tenancy. However, evictions cannot be retaliatory — see Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information presented here reflects a general summary of Texas landlord-tenant law as of April 2026 and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney. Laws and local ordinances may change, and individual circumstances vary. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal matter, you should consult a qualified attorney or contact a legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe makes no representation that the information on this page is current, complete, or applicable to your specific situation.
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