States/Texas/30-Day Deposit Deadline
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Texas renter guide

Texas 30-Day Security Deposit Rule

Texas Property Code § 92.103 generally requires the landlord to refund a residential security deposit on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises, but § 92.107 delays the obligation until the tenant gives a written forwarding address.

Last reviewed: August 30, 20264 official sources cited
Main statutory period30 days

Measured from surrender, subject to the forwarding-address rule.

Forwarding addressWritten statement

The refund/itemization obligation is not triggered until the written address is provided.

Late refund / accountingBad-faith presumption may apply

Section 92.109 contains a presumption tied to failure to refund or itemize by the statutory deadline.

Texas calculator

30-day security deposit deadline

Enter both dates. The practical calculation uses the later of surrender and the written forwarding-address date, then adds 30 calendar days.

Estimated statutory deadlineEnter both dates

Educational calculator only. The legal trigger can depend on the facts surrounding surrender and delivery of the written forwarding address.

Why two dates matter

For a practical deadline check, keep both the date you surrendered the premises and the date you gave the landlord a written forwarding address. If the forwarding address came later, the landlord’s statutory obligation was not triggered before that notice.

Advance move-out notice can also matter

Section 92.103 says a lease requirement for advance notice of surrender as a condition of refund is effective only if that requirement is underlined or printed in conspicuous bold type in the lease.

Preserve proof

  • Proof of key return or possession surrender.
  • A copy of the forwarding-address letter, email or other written notice and proof of delivery.
  • The envelope or timestamp showing when the refund or accounting was sent.
  • Any lease clause requiring advance move-out notice.
Keep the scope in mind. This guide summarizes the cited Texas statewide sources. Lease terms, subsidized-housing rules, local rules and the specific evidence can change the analysis of an individual dispute.

Official sources

Use these links to verify the rule directly. RentBillCheck prioritizes Texas statutes and state-agency materials over secondary summaries.

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