Four Corners renters in Fort Bend County rely entirely on Texas state law for tenant protections. Here is a plain-language guide to your rights on security deposits, repairs, and eviction.·Actualizado June 2026
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Puntos Clave
Control de renta: No rent control. Texas state law prohibits all cities and counties from enacting rent control ordinances (Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902).
Depósito de garantía: Must be returned within 30 days of move-out with an itemized statement of deductions. Wrongful withholding in bad faith can result in 3× the deposit amount plus $100 and attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109).
Aviso de desalojo: Month-to-month tenants are entitled to at least 1 month's written notice before the landlord can end the tenancy (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001).
Desalojo con causa justa: No just cause eviction requirement. Texas landlords may end a month-to-month tenancy without cause with proper notice.
Recursos locales: Lone Star Legal Aid (lonestarlegal.blog), Texas Law Help (texaslawhelp.org)
1. Overview: Tenant Rights in Four Corners
Four Corners is a census-designated place in Fort Bend County, part of the fast-growing Houston metropolitan area. Its rental market reflects the broader suburban Houston boom, with many residents working in the Energy Corridor and surrounding employment centers. Like every community in Texas, Four Corners has no local tenant protection ordinances — Texas state law is the sole source of renter rights here.
Texas landlord-tenant law is governed primarily by the Texas Property Code, particularly Chapters 91 and 92. While Texas is a landlord-friendly state in many respects, it provides meaningful protections on security deposit returns, habitability repairs, retaliation, and illegal self-help evictions. Lone Star Legal Aid serves Fort Bend County renters who need free legal help.
2. Does Four Corners Have Rent Control?
Four Corners has no rent control, and Texas state law makes certain it never will. Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902 expressly prohibits any city or county in Texas from adopting a rent control ordinance. Landlords in Four Corners may raise rent by any amount and at any frequency, provided they comply with existing lease terms and give proper notice on month-to-month tenancies. Renters facing steep rent increases have no legal cap to invoke under Texas or Fort Bend County law.
3. Texas State Tenant Protections That Apply in Four Corners
Texas state law provides the following key protections for Four Corners renters:
Security Deposit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103 & § 92.109): Landlords must return your deposit within 30 days of move-out along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Wrongful withholding in bad faith can result in liability for 3 times the deposit amount plus $100 and attorney’s fees.
Notice to Terminate (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001): For month-to-month tenancies, landlords must give at least 1 month’s written notice before terminating the tenancy.
Repairs and Habitability (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056): Landlords must make repairs that materially affect health or safety within a reasonable time after written notice. Tenants may repair-and-deduct (up to the lesser of $500 or one month’s rent) or terminate the lease if the landlord fails to act.
Retaliation Protection (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331): Landlords cannot raise rent, cut services, or evict in retaliation for requesting repairs, filing a complaint, or exercising a legal right.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081): Self-help eviction is illegal. Landlords cannot lock you out, remove doors, or cut off utilities to force you out without a court order.
4. Security Deposit Rules in Four Corners
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103, Four Corners landlords must return your security deposit within 30 days of your move-out date. Along with the refund (or in lieu of it), the landlord must provide a written, itemized statement of any deductions. Texas law does not cap the amount of a security deposit, but it strictly regulates its return. If a landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit in bad faith, Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109 allows you to recover 3 times the withheld amount, plus $100, plus attorney’s fees. Always document your unit’s condition at move-in and move-out with dated photographs.
5. Eviction Process and Your Rights in Four Corners
To evict a Four Corners tenant, a landlord must first serve a written Notice to Vacate — typically 3 days for nonpayment of rent or lease violations, or at least 1 month for a month-to-month termination (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.005, 91.001). If the tenant does not leave, the landlord must file a Forcible Detainer suit in Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace Court. Self-help eviction — locking you out, removing doors, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081 and can result in significant damages. You have the right to a court hearing before being removed.
6. Resources for Four Corners Tenants
Lone Star Legal Aid — Free civil legal help for low-income renters in Fort Bend County and the Houston area.
Texas Law Help — Free legal information and forms on Texas tenant rights, evictions, and deposits.
Fort Bend County — County resources and Justice of the Peace court information for housing matters.
This article provides general information about tenant rights in Four Corners and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
Verifica tu dirección
Averigua si tu vivienda está cubierta por el control de renta o las protecciones para inquilinos.
No, and it cannot. Texas state law (Tex. Prop. Code § 214.902) prohibits all cities and counties from enacting rent control ordinances. Landlords in Four Corners may raise rent by any amount with proper notice.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Four Corners?
There is no limit on rent increases in Four Corners or anywhere in Texas. For month-to-month tenancies, your landlord must give at least 1 month’s written notice before a rent increase takes effect (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be changed until the lease expires.
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Four Corners?
Your landlord has 30 days from your move-out date to return your deposit with an itemized written statement of any deductions (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103). If the landlord wrongfully withholds the deposit in bad faith, you may be entitled to 3 times the amount plus $100 and attorney’s fees (§ 92.109).
What notice does my landlord need before evicting me in Four Corners?
For nonpayment of rent or lease violations, a landlord must provide at least 3 days’ written Notice to Vacate (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). For ending a month-to-month tenancy without cause, at least 1 month’s notice is required (§ 91.001). After that, the landlord must file a Forcible Detainer suit in Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace Court.
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Four Corners?
No. Self-help eviction is illegal under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.0081. A landlord who changes your locks, removes doors, or shuts off utilities without a court order is liable for actual damages, one month’s rent plus $1,000, attorney’s fees, and court costs.
What can I do if my landlord refuses to make repairs in Four Corners?
Send a written repair request to your landlord. If they fail to make repairs that materially affect health or safety within a reasonable time, Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056 may allow you to repair-and-deduct (up to $500 or one month’s rent, whichever is less) or terminate the lease. Contact Lone Star Legal Aid for free guidance.
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