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Snyder is the county seat of Scurry County in West Texas, a small city of roughly 11,000 residents situated in the heart of oil-patch country. Like many smaller Texas cities, Snyder has a significant share of renters — largely workers in the energy sector and families who rely on affordable housing in the region. Renters here are governed entirely by Texas state law, as Snyder has enacted no local tenant-protection ordinances beyond what the state requires.
The questions Snyder renters most frequently ask involve security deposit returns, what happens when a landlord fails to make repairs, and how much notice is required before an eviction or rent increase. All of these are addressed by the Texas Property Code, which sets clear timelines, penalties for landlord non-compliance, and explicit protections against self-help evictions and retaliation.
This page is an informational summary of the laws that apply to renters in Snyder, Texas. It is not legal advice. Statutes can change, and individual situations vary — if you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a free legal-aid organization listed at the bottom of this page.
Snyder has no rent control, and Texas state law makes that permanent. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902, no Texas city or county may enact an ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for privately owned residential or commercial property. This preemption applies statewide, which means Snyder — like every other Texas municipality — is legally barred from passing any form of rent stabilization or rent control, regardless of local housing conditions.
In practice, this means your landlord in Snyder can raise your rent by any dollar amount at the expiration of your lease term, or with proper written notice on a month-to-month tenancy. There is no cap on rent increases, no requirement that increases be tied to inflation, and no city agency to appeal to. Your best protections are a fixed-term lease (which locks in your rent for its duration) and the statewide notice rules described below.
While Texas does not have rent control, the Texas Property Code provides renters with several important protections that fully apply to Snyder tenants.
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 after you surrender the property. If a landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit in bad faith, you may be entitled to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees and court costs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109).
Habitability and Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Your landlord is required to make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant — such as fixing broken heating, plumbing failures, or electrical hazards — within a reasonable time after receiving your written repair request. If the landlord fails to act, you may have the right to terminate the lease, reduce your rent, or use the repair-and-deduct remedy (up to the lesser of one month's rent or $500) under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0561. To preserve these rights you must give proper written notice and be current on rent.
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 month's written notice before terminating the tenancy. You must give the same notice to your landlord if you wish to end the tenancy. A fixed-term lease ends at its stated expiration date unless renewed.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): Your landlord cannot retaliate against you for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs, contacting a building inspector, or filing a complaint with a government agency. Prohibited retaliation includes raising your rent, cutting services, filing an eviction, or threatening to do any of these things. If your landlord retaliates within six months of a protected action, Texas law presumes the action was retaliatory, and you may be entitled to a month's rent plus attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333).
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord may not change your locks, remove exterior doors or windows, or intentionally interrupt utility service to force you out without first obtaining a court order. If your landlord illegally locks you out, you may recover actual damages, one month's rent plus $500, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Under the Texas Property Code §§ 92.101–92.109, Snyder landlords are subject to the following rules regarding security deposits:
No statutory cap: Texas law does not limit how much a landlord can charge as a security deposit, so the amount is set by your lease agreement.
30-day return deadline: After you vacate the property and surrender possession, your landlord has 30 days to return your deposit. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must provide a written, itemized statement of each deduction along with the remaining balance. If the landlord cannot determine the exact amount of deductions within 30 days, they must still provide a written description of the claim and an estimate.
Forwarding address: To trigger the 30-day clock, you should provide your landlord with a written forwarding address before or at the time of move-out. If you do not provide a forwarding address, the deadline is paused until you do.
Penalties for wrongful withholding: If your landlord retains all or part of your deposit in bad faith — without a valid reason — you may sue and recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100, plus reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from your deposit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.104).
Evictions in Snyder follow the procedures established by the Texas Property Code and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. A landlord must go through the courts — there are no shortcuts.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve you with a written Notice to Vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is 3 days unless your lease specifies a longer period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For lease violations or end of tenancy (month-to-month), at least 1 month's notice is typically required (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001), unless the lease provides otherwise. The notice must state the reason and the deadline to vacate.
Step 2 — Filing a Forcible Detainer Suit: If you do not vacate by the deadline, the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit (called a forcible detainer action) in the Scurry County Justice Court (Justice of the Peace Court). You will receive a citation with the hearing date, typically scheduled within 10 to 21 days of filing (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.4).
Step 3 — Court Hearing: At the hearing, both you and your landlord may present evidence. If the judge rules against you, you have 5 days to appeal to the Scurry County Court at Law. Filing an appeal and posting a bond can temporarily stay the eviction while the case is reviewed.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the landlord wins and you do not appeal or the appeal fails, the court issues a Writ of Possession. A constable or sheriff will then carry out the physical removal — not the landlord directly.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A Snyder landlord cannot remove you by changing locks, removing doors or windows, or cutting off utilities to force you out (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081). Doing so exposes the landlord to civil liability, including one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney's fees.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Texas does not require a landlord to have a specific reason (just cause) to decline to renew your lease at the end of a fixed term. However, proper notice requirements must still be followed, and a landlord cannot evict you in retaliation for exercising a legal right (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331).
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of the law to your specific situation may vary. For advice about your individual circumstances, consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a free legal-aid organization such as Texas RioGrande Legal Aid or Texas Law Help. RentCheckMe makes no warranty about the completeness or accuracy of this information and is not responsible for any actions taken in reliance on it.
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