What to Know Before Signing Your First Lease in Texas
Signing a lease is signing a contract. In Texas, that contract can lock you into 12 months of rent, define what you owe when things break, and shape how much of your deposit you see again. Read it before you sign, not after.
Read Every Page Before You Sign
A lease is not a formality. Once you sign, the terms control what happens for the next year. Ask for the lease at least 24 hours before your scheduled signing so you can read it without pressure. If something is unclear, ask for it in plain English. If a term needs to change, write the revised wording into the agreement and have both parties initial it. Verbal promises that aren't written into the lease are almost impossible to enforce later.
Know What You're Paying and When
The rent number is obvious. What sits around it isn't. Look for the exact due date, the grace period, the late fee amount and when it triggers, the returned-check fee, and the pet deposit or pet rent if you have an animal. Texas has no statutory cap on security deposit amounts, so your lease should state the amount clearly. Confirm which utilities are yours and which the owner covers. In Lubbock, summer electric bills for a 3-bedroom home running the AC hard can easily run $200 or more, so this is not a small detail.
Understand the Security Deposit Rules
Texas law is specific here. To get your deposit back, you must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing. The landlord then has 30 days to return the deposit, minus any lawful deductions, and must provide an itemized list of any amounts withheld. Landlords can deduct for damage beyond normal wear, unpaid rent, and charges spelled out in the lease — but not for ordinary wear from living in the home. Take dated photos of every room the day you move in and email them to yourself so you have a timestamped record.
Repairs: Put It in Writing
Phone calls and text messages feel easier, but Texas law expects written notice from the tenant for repairs that affect health or safety. A verbal request usually isn't enough to trigger the landlord's duty to repair under the Property Code, even if a manager submits the ticket on your behalf. Submit your own written request and keep a copy. Once the landlord receives proper notice, Texas law creates a rebuttable presumption that seven days is a reasonable time to complete the repair, though urgent problems like a burst pipe in February or an AC failure in July call for faster action.
Two more points worth knowing. Never withhold rent because a repair is late — in Texas, that is grounds for eviction. And Texas law prohibits a landlord from retaliating against a tenant for six months after a good-faith complaint about necessary repairs.
Watch the Move-Out Terms
Most Texas leases require 30 or 60 days written notice before your lease ends if you don't plan to renew. Miss that window and you could owe a full extra month or roll into month-to-month at a higher rate. Mark the exact deadline on your calendar the day you sign.
Meridian's lease is written in Texas-compliant language and reviewed with every new resident before signing. Repair requests typically go through our resident portal, which creates the written record Texas law expects, and move-in condition reports are documented with photos so there's no dispute later. Ask questions before you sign — that's what we're here for.
