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Stephenville is the county seat of Erath County in north-central Texas, home to roughly 22,000 residents and Tarleton State University. With a significant student and working-family renter population, questions about deposit returns, repair obligations, and eviction procedures are among the most common tenant concerns in the city.
Stephenville has no local rent control ordinance and no city-specific tenant protections beyond what Texas state law provides. That means the rights described on this page come entirely from the Texas Property Code — a single, uniform framework that applies equally to Stephenville renters as to renters across the state. Landlords here can raise rent by any amount at lease renewal, provided they give proper notice, but they must still comply with strict rules on deposits, habitability, and eviction procedures.
This page is a plain-language summary of the laws most relevant to Stephenville renters and is intended for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. If you face an eviction, a deposit dispute, or a serious habitability problem, please consult a licensed Texas attorney or a legal aid organization before taking action.
Rent control is prohibited in Stephenville — and everywhere else in Texas. Texas Property Code § 214.902 expressly preempts any city or county from adopting a rent control ordinance, making it impossible for Stephenville or Erath County to cap how much a landlord can charge or how large a rent increase can be.
In practice, this means your landlord may raise your rent by any dollar amount at the end of your lease term, or — for month-to-month tenants — with the advance written notice required by Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 (at least one full rental period, typically one month). There is no cap, no required justification, and no city agency that reviews rent increases.
The only practical check on rent hikes is your lease agreement itself. If you are mid-lease with a fixed term, your landlord generally cannot raise your rent until that term expires unless the lease specifically allows it. Once your lease ends or converts to month-to-month, market rates apply without restriction.
Although Stephenville has no local tenant ordinances, Texas state law provides several meaningful protections for renters throughout the state.
Warranty of Habitability & Repair Obligations (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052–§ 92.061): Your landlord must make repairs that materially affect your health or safety — think broken heating, plumbing failures, or serious roof leaks — within a reasonable time after you give written notice. 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) or to terminate the lease and recover damages under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056. You must be current on rent and have given proper written notice to use these remedies.
Security Deposit Rules (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.101–§ 92.109): Texas law sets a 30-day deadline for landlords to return your deposit after you move out, along with a written itemized list of any deductions. Wrongfully withholding all or part of your deposit can expose the landlord to liability for three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees under § 92.109.
Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): Either party must give at least one month's written notice to end a month-to-month rental agreement. If your lease is silent on notice, the statutory one-month minimum applies.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331–§ 92.333): A landlord may not retaliate against you for in good faith requesting repairs, reporting code violations to a government agency, or exercising any right under the Texas Property Code. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, filing a retaliatory eviction, or threatening any of those actions. If a landlord retaliates, you may sue for one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney's fees.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 & § 92.008): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord cannot change your locks, remove exterior doors or windows, or cut off electricity, water, or gas to force you out. Violations entitle you to actual damages, one month's rent plus $500, attorney's fees, and the right to immediate reconnection of utilities. The only legal way to remove a tenant is through the court eviction process.
Texas law governs every aspect of how your landlord handles your security deposit in Stephenville, since the city has no local ordinance adding to these rules.
No Statutory Cap: Texas does not limit how large a security deposit a landlord may charge (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.102). The amount is set by your lease, so compare before you sign.
30-Day Return Deadline (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103): After you vacate, your landlord has 30 days to either return your full deposit or mail you a written, itemized list of deductions along with any remaining balance. If the landlord has a good-faith claim for deductions and needs more information, the deadline may be extended to 60 days — but only if the landlord notifies you of that in writing within the original 30-day window.
Itemization Requirement (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.104): Deductions are only permitted for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and other lease-authorized charges. The landlord must provide a written list describing each deduction; a vague lump-sum deduction is not legally sufficient.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109): If your landlord willfully fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement on time, you can sue in small claims court (Justice of the Peace court) for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees. The landlord loses the right to dispute the claim if they fail to provide the itemized statement.
Practical Tips: Document the condition of the unit with dated photos at move-in and move-out, provide your forwarding address in writing before you leave, and keep a copy of any written repair requests you submitted during the tenancy.
Texas has a detailed eviction process that landlords in Stephenville must follow precisely. A landlord who skips any required step can have the eviction dismissed by the Justice of the Peace court.
Step 1 — Written Notice to Vacate (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005): Before filing for eviction, the landlord must give you a written notice to vacate. For nonpayment of rent, the minimum notice period is three days (unless your lease specifies a different period). For month-to-month tenancies being terminated for other reasons, at least one month's written notice is required under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. The notice must state the reason and the deadline to vacate.
Step 2 — Filing in Justice Court: If you do not vacate by the deadline in the notice, the landlord may file an eviction suit (called a "forcible detainer" action) at the Erath County Justice of the Peace court. The court will schedule a hearing, typically within 10–21 days of filing.
Step 3 — The Hearing: Both parties appear before the Justice of the Peace. You have the right to present a defense — for example, that the rent was actually paid, that the notice was defective, or that the eviction is retaliatory under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is entered.
Step 4 — Appeal Period & Writ of Possession: You have five days after the judgment to appeal to the County Court at Law. If you do not appeal and do not vacate, the landlord may obtain a writ of possession, which authorizes the constable to physically remove you and your belongings.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Texas does not require landlords to have "just cause" to terminate a lease or decline to renew it. As long as proper notice is given, a landlord may end a tenancy for any lawful reason — or no stated reason at all — unless doing so constitutes illegal retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331) or discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): A landlord may never lock you out, remove doors, or shut off utilities as a way to force you to leave. These acts are illegal regardless of whether you owe rent. You may seek emergency relief and damages in court if a landlord attempts a self-help eviction.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other serious housing issue in Stephenville or Erath County, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization before taking action. RentCheckMe makes reasonable efforts to keep this information current but cannot guarantee that all information reflects the most recent changes in law or local ordinance.
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