# Texas Security Deposits: Wear vs Damage | Who Pays the Repair?

> Texas landlords must refund deposits within 30 days and can't deduct for normal wear and tear, under Property Code §§92.103–92.104.

**Who pays:** shared

Texas landlords must refund deposits within 30 days and can't deduct for normal wear and tear, under Property Code §§92.103–92.104.

**Boundary:** 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).

## Sources
- [Property Code §92.103 (30-day refund obligation)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.92.htm) — "the landlord shall refund a security deposit to the tenant on or before the 30th day after the date the tenant surrenders the premises." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Property Code §92.104(b) (no deduction for normal wear and tear) + §92.001(4) (definition)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.92.htm) — "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..." (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-27. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/texas-security-deposit-wear-vs-damage/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._