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White Settlement is a small city of roughly 17,000 residents located in Tarrant County, immediately west of Fort Worth. The city's rental market is closely tied to the broader Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, and many residents rent single-family homes and apartments at prices below the DFW regional average. Renters in White Settlement most commonly ask about how much their landlord can raise their rent, what happens to their security deposit after move-out, and what steps a landlord must follow before an eviction.
Because White Settlement has enacted no local housing ordinances beyond what the state requires, all tenant protections come from the Texas Property Code. Texas law addresses security deposits, habitability and repairs, retaliation, unlawful lockouts, and notice requirements — but it does not cap rents or require landlords to show cause before ending a tenancy. Understanding the state framework is therefore essential for every renter in White Settlement.
This page summarizes the laws most relevant to White Settlement renters. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary — consult a qualified attorney or local legal aid organization if you have a specific legal problem.
White Settlement has no rent control, and Texas state law makes it impossible for any Texas city or county to enact one. Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902 expressly prohibits municipalities and counties from adopting any ordinance, rule, or other measure that would control the amount of rent charged for privately owned residential housing. This preemption applies statewide, meaning no city — not Fort Worth, not Dallas, not White Settlement — may legally cap rents or limit rent increases for private landlords.
In practice, this means your landlord can raise your rent by any amount and at any time, as long as proper written notice is given before the change takes effect. For a month-to-month tenancy, that means at least one month's advance written notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001. For a fixed-term lease, rent cannot be changed during the lease term unless the lease itself allows for it — the landlord must wait until renewal to propose a new rate. There is no government agency in White Settlement or Tarrant County that reviews or limits rent increases.
Although White Settlement has no local tenant ordinances, Texas state law provides several meaningful protections that apply to every renter in the city.
Security Deposits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101–92.109): Texas law imposes no statutory cap on 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 of the tenant vacating the unit. If a landlord wrongfully withholds the deposit in bad faith, the tenant may be entitled to three times the withheld amount plus attorney's fees under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109.
Habitability and Repairs (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords in White Settlement are legally required to make repairs that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant. To trigger this obligation, the tenant must give written notice of the problem, be current on rent, and allow a reasonable time for the repair. If the landlord fails to act, the tenant may have the right to repair the condition and deduct the cost from rent (up to the lesser of $500 or one month's rent), terminate the lease, or pursue other legal remedies. Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052 sets out the threshold for what qualifies as a material health-or-safety condition.
Notice to Terminate (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For a month-to-month tenancy, either the landlord or the tenant must give at least one month's written notice before terminating. A fixed-term lease ends on its stated expiration date without additional notice, unless the lease requires otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): It is unlawful for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for exercising a legal right — such as requesting repairs, reporting housing code violations to a government agency, or contacting a housing inspector. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, and filing or threatening to file an eviction. Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.333, a tenant who is retaliated against may recover one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal in Texas. A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, remove furniture, or cut off electricity, water, or gas in order to force a tenant out. A tenant who is unlawfully locked out may recover possession of the unit or, if they choose not to reoccupy, may recover one month's rent plus $500, actual damages, and attorney's fees. An unlawfully locked-out tenant may also apply to a justice court for an emergency writ of re-entry.
Texas law governing security deposits is found in Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101 through 92.109. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord in White Settlement may require as a security deposit — the amount is set by the lease agreement.
Return deadline: After a tenant moves out, the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit. If the landlord makes any deductions, they must provide a written, itemized accounting of every deduction along with the remaining balance. The landlord must have the tenant's forwarding address to start the 30-day clock; a tenant who does not provide a forwarding address should do so in writing to protect their rights.
Permissible deductions: A landlord may deduct for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other costs allowed by the lease. Normal wear and tear — minor scuffs, faded paint, carpet wear from ordinary use — cannot be charged against the deposit.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109, if a landlord retains all or part of the deposit in bad faith, the tenant may recover three times the wrongfully withheld amount, plus $100, plus attorney's fees and court costs in a successful lawsuit. The burden shifts to the landlord to prove the withholding was justified once the tenant shows the deposit was not returned on time.
Tenants should document the condition of their unit with dated photographs or video at move-in and move-out, and should retain copies of all written communications with their landlord regarding the deposit.
Evictions in White Settlement are governed by the Texas Property Code and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Texas does not require a landlord to have a specific reason ('just cause') to end a tenancy after proper notice — but the landlord must follow the legal process and cannot take matters into their own hands.
Step 1 — Notice to Vacate: Before filing in court, the landlord must give the tenant a written notice to vacate. For most evictions (nonpayment of rent, lease violations, or tenancy termination), the minimum notice period is 3 days under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005, unless the lease specifies a longer period. For month-to-month tenancies being terminated without cause, the landlord must give at least one month's advance written notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 before the notice to vacate can be effective.
Step 2 — Filing a Forcible Detainer Suit: If the tenant does not vacate by the deadline in the notice, the landlord may file a forcible detainer (eviction) lawsuit in the Justice of the Peace Court for Tarrant County Precinct 1 (or the appropriate precinct for White Settlement). The filing fee and a hearing date are set by the court.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant are entitled to appear and present their case. The hearing is typically scheduled within 10–21 days of filing. Tenants should bring any documentation — the lease, payment records, photographs, and correspondence — to the hearing.
Step 4 — Judgment and Writ of Possession: If the court rules in the landlord's favor, the tenant generally has 5 days to vacate or appeal. If the tenant does not leave voluntarily and does not appeal, the landlord may obtain a writ of possession, which authorizes a constable to remove the tenant and their belongings.
Appeal: A tenant who receives an unfavorable judgment may appeal to the County Court at Law within 5 days by posting an appeal bond or filing a sworn statement of inability to pay (Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.9).
Self-help eviction is illegal: Regardless of the reason for eviction, a landlord in White Settlement may never lock out a tenant, remove their belongings, or shut off utilities to force them out. Doing so violates Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 and exposes the landlord to significant liability. The only lawful way to remove a tenant is through the court process described above.
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 the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe makes no guarantee that the information here is current, complete, or accurate as of the date you read it. If you have a specific legal problem — including an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or a habitability issue — you should consult a licensed Texas attorney or contact a local legal aid organization. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship.
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