Texas Room Rental Agreement Template

An agreement for renting one bedroom in a shared home, with private and shared areas, house rules, a fair utility split and clear notice terms. This edition fills in the Texas rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

Texas rules for this form

Deposit limit. State law does not limit how much a landlord can charge as a security deposit. (Texas Property Code chapter 92, subchapter C)

Deadline to return the deposit. Once the tenant gives up possession, the landlord has 30 days to send back the deposit along with a written account of anything kept. (Property Code section 92.103)

Notice before entry. No statute sets a notice period for landlord entry, so the lease governs access. (Texas Property Code (no entry notice statute))

Late fees. A late fee must be in a written lease, must be reasonable, and is presumed reasonable up to 12 percent of monthly rent for buildings with four or fewer units and 10 percent for larger buildings. (Property Code section 92.019)

Month-to-month notice. Either side ends a month-to-month tenancy with at least one month of written notice, unless the lease sets a different period. (Property Code section 91.001)

Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))

Required disclosures. Leases must include the written flood disclosure notice about the 100-year floodplain and past flooding. (Property Code section 92.0135)

Required disclosures. On request, the landlord must disclose the name and address of the owner and of any management company. (Property Code section 92.201)

Cities and counties in Texas can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.

What is in the template

1. Parties
2. The room and shared areas
3. Term
4. Rent
5. Utilities and household costs
6. Security deposit
7. House rules
8. Privacy and entry
9. Care and repairs
10. Ending this Agreement for a breach
11. Moving out
12. General terms
13. Signatures

Before you use it

• A room rental agreement covers one private room plus shared use of common areas like the kitchen and bathroom.
• House rules on guests, quiet hours, cleaning and shared costs prevent most housemate disputes.
• Some states treat a renter who lives with the owner differently, especially for eviction, so check before you rely on it.
• Fair housing law still applies to most room rentals, though some owner-occupied homes have narrow exemptions.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the room rental agreement.