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Raymondville is the county seat of Willacy County in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. As a smaller agricultural and commercial community, Raymondville has a significant renter population, many of whom rely on affordable housing and may be unfamiliar with their legal rights under Texas law. Renters here face the same challenges common across South Texas — questions about security deposit returns, landlord repair obligations, and knowing what to do when facing eviction.
Texas state law governs all landlord-tenant relationships in Raymondville. The Texas Property Code provides meaningful protections on habitability, security deposits, retaliation, and illegal lockouts — but there is no local rent control or additional tenant ordinance in Raymondville beyond what state law provides. Understanding these state-level rights is essential for every renter in the city.
This page is an informational resource summarizing Texas tenant protections as they apply to Raymondville renters. It is not legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, consult a licensed attorney or contact a free legal aid organization such as Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
Raymondville has no rent control, and Texas law prohibits any city or county from enacting one. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, local governments in Texas are expressly preempted from adopting ordinances that would control or limit the amount of rent a private landlord may charge. This means the City of Raymondville and Willacy County have no legal authority to establish any form of rent stabilization or rent control, regardless of local housing conditions.
In practice, this means a landlord in Raymondville can raise your rent by any amount at the end of your lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with proper advance notice. There is no cap on how much rents can increase, and no local board or agency reviews rent increases. Your only protection against a rent increase is the terms of your current lease — once your lease period ends, your landlord is free to set a new rental rate.
Renters who cannot afford a proposed rent increase have the option to negotiate with their landlord or choose not to renew their lease. Texas law does not require a landlord to justify a rent increase or offer a lease renewal.
While Raymondville has no local tenant ordinances, Texas state law provides several important protections for renters throughout the state, including Willacy County.
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. After you give your landlord written notice of a needed repair, they must respond within a reasonable time — generally interpreted as 7 days for urgent conditions. 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 a rent reduction through the courts. You must be current on rent and have given proper written notice to exercise these remedies.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Landlords must return your security deposit within 30 days of move-out along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit in Texas. Wrongful withholding can result in the landlord owing you three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees.
Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): If you rent month-to-month, your landlord must give you at least one month's written notice before terminating your tenancy. You are similarly required to give one month's notice to your landlord.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): Your landlord cannot evict you, raise your rent, reduce your services, or threaten you in retaliation for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs in good faith, contacting a housing inspector, or joining a tenant organization. If a landlord retaliates within six months of a protected action, the law presumes the action was retaliatory.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord cannot change your locks, remove doors or windows, or shut off your utilities to force you out of your home. These actions must only occur through a formal court-ordered eviction process. Violating this law entitles the tenant to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and the right to regain possession.
Security deposit rules in Raymondville are governed entirely by the Texas Property Code, specifically Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109.
No Statutory Cap: Texas law does not limit how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit. The amount is set by the lease agreement. Always get the deposit amount in writing before signing a lease.
30-Day Return Deadline: After you vacate your rental unit, your landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit along with a written, itemized list of any deductions. The 30-day clock typically starts when you surrender possession of the unit. You should provide your landlord with a forwarding address in writing to avoid disputes about delivery.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109, if a landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit or fails to provide the required itemized statement in bad faith, you may be entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus attorney's fees, in a civil lawsuit. The burden is on the landlord to prove that any deductions were made in good faith.
Normal Wear and Tear: Landlords may not deduct from your deposit for ordinary wear and tear — that is, the natural deterioration of the property through normal use. Deductions are only permissible for actual damages beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, or other specific lease violations.
Practical Tips: Document the condition of the unit with photos at both move-in and move-out, keep a copy of any written communications with your landlord, and always provide a written forwarding address when you vacate.
Evictions in Raymondville must follow the formal legal process established under Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 24 and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. A landlord cannot remove a tenant through any other means.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing for eviction in court, a landlord must give you a written notice to vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the notice period is typically 3 days unless the lease specifies a different period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For month-to-month tenancies being terminated without cause, the landlord must give at least 1 month's notice (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 you do not vacate after the notice period, the landlord may file a Forcible Detainer lawsuit in Willacy County Justice of the Peace Court. You will be served with a citation and a hearing date — typically set within 10 to 21 days of filing.
Step 3 — Justice Court Hearing: Both you and your landlord have the right to appear and present evidence at the hearing. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is entered. You have the right to appeal to the County Court within 5 days of the judgment, which may require posting an appeal bond.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If you do not appeal or vacate after the judgment, the landlord may obtain a Writ of Possession from the court. Only a constable or sheriff may execute the writ and physically remove you and your belongings — not the landlord acting alone.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081, it is illegal for a landlord to lock you out, remove your doors, cut off your utilities, or take any other action to force you out without going through the court process. Violations entitle the tenant to actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees, and the right to reenter the property.
No Just Cause Requirement: Texas does not require landlords to have just cause (a specific legal reason) to evict a tenant after the lease term has ended. Once your lease expires and you have not renewed, the landlord may begin the eviction process with proper notice.
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, and local circumstances may affect how the law applies to your specific situation. Raymondville and Willacy County renters with legal questions or disputes should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or currency of this information.
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