If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Repair-request & landlord/tenant forms (LawDepot)Templates for a notice to repair, security-deposit demand, and more.
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Default rule and exceptions
Texas landlords must refund the security deposit within 30 days after the tenant surrenders the premises, and may not retain any part of it to cover normal wear and tear, only damages/charges the tenant is legally liable for, with a written itemized list of deductions (Property Code §§92.103–92.104).
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Landlord | Refund the deposit within 30 days of surrender and may not retain any portion for normal wear and tear. |
| Tenant | Is liable only for damage from negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse, not deterioration from intended, normal use. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 27, 2026.
the landlord shall refund a security deposit to the tenant on or before the 30th day after the date the tenant surrenders the premises.
The landlord may not retain any portion of a security deposit to cover normal wear and tear. / 'Normal wear and tear' means deterioration that results from the intended use of a dwelling... but the term does not include deterioration that results from negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse of the premises, equipment, or chattels by the tenant...
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Common questions
Who pays for security deposit: damage vs wear in Statewide, TX?
Responsibility is shared. Refund the deposit within 30 days of surrender and may not retain any portion for normal wear and tear.
What is this based on for Statewide, TX?
This verdict is sourced to Property Code §92.103 (30-day refund obligation) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Property Code §92.103 (30-day refund obligation)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- Property Code §92.104(b) (no deduction for normal wear and tear) + §92.001(4) (definition)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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