Strong tenant protections
Breaking a lease in Texas
The mitigation question
Good news
Your landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent — you owe the gap, not the whole remainder. Yes — Tex. Prop. Code § 91.006 (waiver void per § 91.006(b)).
Your protected exits
- Military. SCRA baseline (50 U.S.C. § 3955) plus Tex. Prop. Code § 92.017 'Right to vacate and avoid liability following certain decisions related to military service' (PCS/deployment). Note: § 92.0161 is the… Guide →
- Domestic violence. Two statutes. § 92.016 (family violence): 30 days' written notice + copy of temporary injunction (Family Code Ch. 6), temporary ex parte order (Ch. 83), protective order (Ch. 85), emergency protection order (CCP Art.… Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.016 and 92.0161 Guide →
- Uninhabitable conditions. § 92.052 (landlord duties) + § 92.056 — written notice; landlord must make a diligent effort within a reasonable time (presumed 7 days); tenant may terminate, repair-and-deduct, or seek judicial relief.
- Servicemember dependents covered under § 92.017/SCRA
- Reported (confirm with a licensed attorney): DV victims may change locks (statute number
Notice periods
| Situation | Rule |
|---|
| Dv | 30 days' written notice + documentation (notice waived when abuser is cotenant/occupant) |
| Habitability | written notice + reasonable time (presumed 7 days) for landlord to act |
| Military | § 92.017 / SCRA |
Early-termination fees
No statutory ban; agreed termination/reletting fees are enforceable and treated separately from § 91.006.
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Not legal advice. This page is general information about landlord-tenant law, not advice about your situation. Laws change and procedures vary by county. For advice about your lease, consult a licensed attorney in your state — many legal aid offices help renters free.