Texas Statutes
Subchapter F. Prohibited Acts
Section 94.251. Retaliation by Landlord

Sec. 94.251. RETALIATION BY LANDLORD. (a) A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant by taking an action described by Subsection (b) because the tenant:
(1) in good faith exercises or attempts to exercise against a landlord a right or remedy granted to the tenant by the lease agreement, a municipal ordinance, or a federal or state statute;
(2) gives the landlord a notice to repair or exercise a remedy under this chapter; or
(3) complains to a governmental entity responsible for enforcing building or housing codes, a public utility, or a civic or nonprofit agency, and the tenant:
(A) claims a building or housing code violation or utility problem; and
(B) believes in good faith that the complaint is valid and that the violation or problem occurred.
(b) A landlord may not, within six months after the date of the tenant's action under Subsection (a), retaliate against the tenant by:
(1) filing an eviction proceeding, except for the grounds stated by Subchapter E;
(2) depriving the tenant of the use of the premises, except for reasons authorized by law;
(3) decreasing services to the tenant;
(4) increasing the tenant's rent;
(5) terminating the tenant's lease agreement; or
(6) engaging, in bad faith, in a course of conduct that materially interferes with the tenant's rights under the tenant's lease agreement.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 801, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2002.

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