Texas doesn't cap how much a landlord can raise the rent, but state law does control when they can raise it. The answer depends on what kind of lease you're on — and getting the timing wrong can void the increase entirely.
If you're on a 12-month lease, the rent locked in on day one is the rent for the full term. Your landlord cannot raise it during the lease unless your written agreement specifically allows it (most don't).
For month-to-month tenancies, the default is at least 30 days' written notice before the increase takes effect — and the new amount can only kick in at the start of a new rental period.
When your fixed-term lease is ending and the landlord wants to raise rent on renewal, they must give you the new terms before you sign. You can decline and let the lease lapse to month-to-month or move out.
A text or in-person conversation isn't legally sufficient. Texas Property Code requires written notice — by mail, posting, or another method allowed in your lease — for the increase to be enforceable.
Even with proper notice, a rent increase aimed at someone in a protected class (race, family status, etc.) or aimed at punishing a tenant for complaining about repairs is illegal under fair housing and §92.331 retaliation rules.
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