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Texas security deposit law: deadline, deductions and penalties

Quick answer

In Texas, a landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103, 92.109). Under Texas law, a landlord who wrongfully keeps a deposit can owe up to three times the amount withheld, plus up to $100.

Checked against the statute on October 29, 2026.

30

days for a Texas landlord to return the deposit or itemize deductions

The deadline

The landlord must refund the deposit, or give a written itemized list of deductions, on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises.

What the landlord must send you

A written, itemized list of all deductions.

If the landlord misses the deadline

A landlord who has not returned the deposit or provided the itemized list by the 30th day is presumed to have acted in bad faith (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109(d)).

Penalty for wrongful withholding

A landlord who in bad faith keeps a deposit is liable for $100, three times the portion wrongfully withheld, and the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109(a)).

Your forwarding address

Texas ties the landlord's refund duty to receiving the tenant's written forwarding address (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107). The letter includes yours.

Read the law

Summary checked against the statute on October 29, 2026. Not legal advice; laws change, so confirm with the source before relying on it.

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Did the landlord send you a written, itemized list of deductions?

Texas security deposit FAQ

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Texas?

The landlord must refund the deposit, or give a written itemized list of deductions, on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises.

What must a Texas landlord send when keeping part of the deposit?

A written, itemized list of all deductions.

What happens if a Texas landlord misses the deadline?

A landlord who has not returned the deposit or provided the itemized list by the 30th day is presumed to have acted in bad faith (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109(d)).

What is the penalty for wrongfully keeping a security deposit in Texas?

A landlord who in bad faith keeps a deposit is liable for $100, three times the portion wrongfully withheld, and the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109(a)).

Do I need to give my Texas landlord a forwarding address?

Texas ties the landlord's refund duty to receiving the tenant's written forwarding address (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107). The letter includes yours.

How do I get my security deposit back in Texas?

Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing, wait for the 30 days deadline, then send a demand letter by certified mail that cites Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103, 92.109 and sets a payment date. If the landlord still doesn't pay, you can file in small claims court in the county where the rental is located.

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