Texas Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
Texas rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: A landlord may not remove doors, windows, locks or landlord-supplied furniture or appliances (except for bona fide repair), and may not keep a tenant out without a court order except for repairs or emergencies, removing contents of abandoned premises, or changing locks for unpaid rent. Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.0081, 92.009
The rules in Texas
| Lockouts and illegal eviction | A landlord may not remove doors, windows, locks or landlord-supplied furniture or appliances (except for bona fide repair), and may not keep a tenant out without a court order except for repairs or emergencies, removing contents of abandoned premises, or changing locks for unpaid rent. A lock change for unpaid rent requires a lease clause and advance written notice, and the landlord must give the tenant a new key at any hour even if the rent is not paid. If the landlord violates these rules, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and recover one month's rent plus $1,000, actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees, less rent owed. The tenant can also file a sworn complaint for a writ of reentry in justice court. Refusing to give the new key adds one more month's rent as a penalty. A lease clause waiving these rights is void. |
|---|---|
| Landlord shutting off utilities | No. A landlord may not interrupt utilities the tenant pays the utility for directly, or water, wastewater, gas or electricity the landlord furnishes, except for bona fide repairs, construction or an emergency (submetered electricity may be cut for nonpayment only under strict notice rules). If the landlord violates this, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and recover actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees and court costs, less any rent owed. The tenant can also ask the justice court for a writ of restoration of utility service. A landlord who agreed to pay for utilities is also liable if service is cut off for the landlord's nonpayment; the tenant may then pay the utility and deduct it from rent or end the lease. A lease clause waiving these rights is void. |
| Landlord retaliation | Landlord may not, within six months after a tenant in good faith exercises a legal right, gives a repair notice, complains to a code-enforcement or other agency, or participates in a tenant organization, file an eviction (except on statutory grounds), deprive use of the premises, decrease services, raise rent, terminate the lease, or engage in bad-faith interference. Remedy: one month's rent + $500, actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees. Not retaliation if, e.g., tenant was delinquent in rent when notice was given or the suit filed (Sec. 92.332(b)). |
Related questions
Texas vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | A landlord may not remove doors, windows, locks or landlord-supplied furniture or appliances (except for bona fide repair), and may not keep a tenant out without a court order except for repairs or emergencies, removing contents of abandoned premises, or changing locks for unpaid rent. A lock change for unpaid rent requires a lease clause and advance written notice, and the landlord must give the tenant a new key at any hour even if the rent is not paid. If the landlord violates these rules, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and recover one month's rent plus $1,000, actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees, less rent owed. The tenant can also file a sworn complaint for a writ of reentry in justice court. Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.0081, 92.009 | No. A landlord may not interrupt utilities the tenant pays the utility for directly, or water, wastewater, gas or electricity the landlord furnishes, except for bona fide repairs, construction or an emergency (submetered electricity may be cut for nonpayment only under strict notice rules). If the landlord violates this, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and recover actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees and court costs, less any rent owed. The tenant can also ask the justice court for a writ of restoration of utility service. A landlord who agreed to pay for utilities is also liable if service is cut off for the landlord's nonpayment; the tenant may then pay the utility and deduct it from rent or end the lease. Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.008, 92.0091, 92.301 | Landlord may not, within six months after a tenant in good faith exercises a legal right, gives a repair notice, complains to a code-enforcement or other agency, or participates in a tenant organization, file an eviction (except on statutory grounds), deprive use of the premises, decrease services, raise rent, terminate the lease, or engage in bad-faith interference. Remedy: one month's rent + $500, actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.331; 92.332; 92.333 |
| Arkansas | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | No statute — Arkansas has no landlord anti-retaliation statute. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Ch. 17) and the deposit subchapter contain no retaliation provision or presumption period. Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Ch. 17 (§§ 18-17-101 et seq.); §§ 18-16-301 to -306 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana's eviction procedure runs through the courts: after a notice to vacate, the landlord files a rule to show cause, gets a judgment of eviction, and a warrant for possession is executed by the sheriff, constable or marshal (Code of Civil Procedure arts. 4701, 4731-4734). After the required notice, a landlord may retake possession without further court process only on a reasonable belief that the tenant has abandoned the premises (art. 4731(B)). In parishes under a federal disaster declaration, leaving the home is not treated as abandonment for 30 days; a landlord who violates that rule owes the residential tenant $500 or twice the monthly rent, whichever is greater, and the tenant may get a restraining order (art. 4731(C)). La. C.C.P. arts. 4701, 4731-4734 | Not verified yet | No statewide statute identified. In New Orleans, the city's Healthy Homes ordinance protects tenants who use its complaint process ('protected activity'). New Orleans Healthy Homes Ordinance (City Code ch. 26) |
| New Mexico | Self-help eviction is banned. Except after abandonment or surrender, an owner may not knowingly exclude or try to remove a resident without a court order by fraud, changing or plugging locks, blocking entrances, removing the resident's belongings, removing or disabling appliances or fixtures (except for legitimate repairs), or any willful act making the unit or belongings inaccessible or uninhabitable. The resident may abate 100% of the rent for each day denied possession, recover a civil penalty of two times the monthly rent, seek restitution of the premises or end the agreement, and recover damages. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-36, 47-8-48(C) | No. Except after abandonment or surrender, an owner may not knowingly exclude or try to remove a resident without a court order by interfering with services or utilities, including electricity, gas, hot or cold water, plumbing, heat, or telephone service. The resident may abate 100% of the rent for each day a service is cut for any part of the day, recover a civil penalty of two times the monthly rent, seek restitution of the premises or end the rental agreement, and recover damages. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-36, 47-8-48(C) | An owner may not raise rent, reduce services, or bring/threaten an eviction because, within the previous 6 months, the compliant resident complained to a code-enforcement agency, joined/organized a residents' association, exercised UORRA rights (including written repair requests), made a fair housing complaint, won or has pending a lawsuit against the owner about the residency, testified for another resident, or lawfully abated rent. Retaliation is a defense to eviction; owner is liable for 2x monthly rent plus attorney's fees. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-39, 47-8-48(C) |
| Oklahoma | If a landlord wrongfully removes or locks a tenant out of the unit, the tenant may go to court to recover possession, or give notice and end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover up to twice the average monthly rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all recoverable deposits and all prepaid, unearned rent. 41 O.S. § 123 | If, contrary to the lease or the landlord's legal duties, the landlord willfully or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service, the tenant may give written notice and then (1) end the lease immediately on written notice, (2) buy reasonable amounts of the service and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from rent, (3) recover damages for the reduced rental value, or (4) on written notice, get substitute housing and owe no rent while the problem lasts. A landlord who removes or excludes a tenant from the unit is liable under the wrongful-exclusion rule. 41 O.S. §§ 121(C), 123 | No general anti-retaliation statute. The Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act does not protect tenants who complain about conditions or exercise other rights. One narrow exception: a landlord may not deny a tenancy to, or retaliate against, a tenant because the tenant previously ended a rental agreement as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking (§ 113.3). 41 O.S. §§ 101-136 (no general retaliation section); 41 O.S. § 113.3 |
City rules that may add to state law
More Texas rental law
- Texas Security Deposit Law
- Texas Eviction Laws
- Texas Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Texas
- Texas Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Texas Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Texas
- Squatters' Rights in Texas
- Texas Rental Fee Rules
- Texas Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Texas Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Texas Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Texas Landlord Selling the House
- Texas Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Texas landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Texas
Compare lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation in all 50 states and DC →
Texas Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord change the locks without a court order in Texas?
A landlord may not remove doors, windows, locks or landlord-supplied furniture or appliances (except for bona fide repair), and may not keep a tenant out without a court order except for repairs or emergencies, removing contents of abandoned premises, or changing locks for unpaid rent. A lock change for unpaid rent requires a lease clause and advance written notice, and the landlord must give the tenant a new key at any hour even if the rent is not paid. If the landlord violates these rules, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and recover one month's rent plus $1,000, actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees, less rent owed. The tenant can also file a sworn complaint for a writ of reentry in justice court. (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.0081, 92.009)
Can a landlord shut off utilities in Texas?
No. A landlord may not interrupt utilities the tenant pays the utility for directly, or water, wastewater, gas or electricity the landlord furnishes, except for bona fide repairs, construction or an emergency (submetered electricity may be cut for nonpayment only under strict notice rules). If the landlord violates this, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and recover actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees and court costs, less any rent owed. The tenant can also ask the justice court for a writ of restoration of utility service. A landlord who agreed to pay for utilities is also liable if service is cut off for the landlord's nonpayment; the tenant may then pay the utility and deduct it from rent or end the lease. (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.008, 92.0091, 92.301)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Texas?
Landlord may not, within six months after a tenant in good faith exercises a legal right, gives a repair notice, complains to a code-enforcement or other agency, or participates in a tenant organization, file an eviction (except on statutory grounds), deprive use of the premises, decrease services, raise rent, terminate the lease, or engage in bad-faith interference. Remedy: one month's rent + $500, actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees. (Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.331; 92.332; 92.333)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.