Texas Landlord-Tenant Cases

The court addressed a landlord's obligation to return a security deposit under Texas Property Code § 92.103. The court held that a landlord who fails to return a security deposit or provide an itemized accounting within 30 days of the tenant vacating is presumed to have acted in bad faith. This presumption shifts the burden to the landlord to show good cause for retention.

The court addressed the requirements for a valid notice to vacate under Texas Property Code § 24.005 prior to filing a forcible detainer action. The court held that the notice must strictly comply with statutory requirements, including identifying the property, stating the landlord's demand, and providing the required time period for compliance.

The court addressed a tenant's remedies when a landlord fails to make repairs affecting health and safety. The court held that under Texas Property Code § 92.056, a tenant must follow specific procedural steps — including written notice and reasonable time for repair — before exercising self-help remedies such as repair-and-deduct or lease termination.

The court addressed what constitutes a valid itemized list of deductions from a security deposit. The court held that a landlord's deduction list must be specific enough to allow the tenant to meaningfully evaluate each claimed deduction. Vague entries like 'cleaning' or 'damages' without further detail are insufficient.

The court addressed the intersection of federal housing law and Texas eviction procedures. The court held that public housing authorities must comply with both federal due process requirements and Texas Property Code eviction procedures. A housing authority cannot circumvent federal hearing rights by simply filing a state court forcible detainer action.