The State of Eviction Law in Texas: What Lubbock Renters Need to Know (2025)

Sarah thought she understood her lease. Three months later, she's facing eviction and doesn't know why. Down the hall, her property manager is equally frustrated - dealing with confusing regulations that seem to change every legislative session.

Welcome to Texas rental law in 2025, where everyone's trying to figure out the rules.

Texas eviction law is shifting fast. Housing providers want clearer, more efficient processes. Renters need protection from rising costs and quick evictions that can derail their lives. Recent changes have created a new landscape that affects everyone in the rental market.

How Evictions Actually Work in Texas

Let's cut through the confusion. Texas law requires specific steps before anyone can be removed from their home.

First comes the notice. Property owners must give written notice - typically 3 days for unpaid rent or 30 days for lease violations. No exceptions. No verbal warnings count.

Next, if the issue isn't resolved, management files suit in justice court. Papers must be served at least 6 days before trial. Then comes the court hearing, judgment, and finally - if everything goes against the tenant - a writ of possession.

The whole process exists to protect everyone's rights. Tenants get time to respond or fix problems. Property owners get a clear legal path to resolve serious issues.

But here's what's changing: the timeline is getting tighter.

The Big Changes Nobody Talks About

In 2023, Texas lawmakers made a move that caught many by surprise. They told cities: "No more local tenant protection rules."

Austin and Dallas had given renters extra time to catch up on rent before eviction cases could start. Those rules? Gone as of September 1, 2023.

The goal was consistency. Property management companies operating across multiple cities had been juggling different rules in each location. Industry professionals argued this patchwork created confusion and higher operating costs.

The result? Dallas County saw about 5,000 fewer eviction filings the year before these protections disappeared. Make of that what you will.

What's Coming Next: 2025 Legislative Session

Two bills are making waves right now.

Senate Bill 38 already passed the Senate and heads to the House. Senator Paul Bettencourt says it's about removing squatters faster. Critics worry it could affect legitimate tenants too.

House Bill 32 aims to speed up evictions even more. It would make it easier to serve notices and harder for cities to fund tenant legal aid.

Both bills claim to target squatters - people illegally occupying properties. But the language is broad enough to affect regular eviction cases.

Housing providers see these as necessary tools. Tenant advocates see them as going too far.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Here's what's really happening in Texas: evictions are up big time.

Property owners filed over 177,000 eviction cases in Houston, Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth in 2023. That's more than pre-pandemic levels in many areas.

Why the surge? Simple. The money ran out.

Texas distributed $1.8 billion in federal rent relief during COVID, helping over 265,000 families stay housed. That program ended in summer 2023. Most local programs ended too.

Perfect timing? Not exactly. A Harvard study found 2.1 million Texas renters now spend more than 30% of their income on rent. That's more than half of all renter households in the state.

Texas: Still the Wild West for Renters

Texas remains one of the few states that bans rent control completely. Cities can't cap rent increases, no matter how dramatic.

Property owners can raise rent by any amount with just 30 days notice. Market forces rule everything.

This creates challenges for everyone. Renters face unpredictable housing costs. Property managers deal with higher turnover when people can't afford increases.

The recent $12.7 billion property tax cut helped homeowners but left renters out entirely. The theory? Tax savings for property owners might trickle down to lower rents. The reality? That's yet to be seen.

What Rights Do Tenants Still Have?

Despite all the changes, renters aren't powerless. You still have important protections:

Quiet enjoyment means your housing provider can't evict you without legal cause or constantly interfere with your life.

Repair rights let you demand fixes for anything affecting your health or safety. Justice courts can order repairs up to $10,000.

Retaliation protection prevents eviction for six months after you complain about needed repairs in good faith.

Court rights mean you can respond to eviction lawsuits, present evidence, and appeal judgments.

Payment proof can defend against wrongful eviction if you have receipts showing rent was paid.

Getting Help When You Need It

Legal aid exists but it's limited. More lawyers are showing up in eviction courts than before COVID, but most tenants still go unrepresented.

If you need help fast, call the TLSC Eviction Helpline at 855-270-7655. If your hearing is within five days, call immediately.

Rental assistance? That's mostly gone. Texas Rent Relief stopped taking applications March 31, 2023. Some local programs might have funds left, but don't count on it.

The Texas Eviction Diversion Program, which helped over 323,000 households during the pandemic, closed in summer 2023.

The Real Cost of Getting Evicted

An eviction record follows you for seven years. Seven years of apartment applications getting rejected. Seven years of explaining why you got evicted.

Property management companies almost always reject applicants with eviction history. It doesn't matter if you paid everything back or won your case later.

The new faster process gives tenants less time to find alternatives, get legal help, or resolve problems. Dallas officials worry this increases homelessness.

One eviction can destroy years of financial progress.

What Industry Professionals Are Saying

Housing providers argue they need efficient processes to maintain safe, well-managed communities. Chris Newton from the Texas Apartment Association calls slow evictions a "broader problem" that reduces housing availability.

Property owners say delays encourage people to stay without paying, driving up costs for everyone else.

They have a point. Rental housing is a business. When processes don't work efficiently, operating costs rise. Those costs eventually get passed to all residents.

What Tenant Advocates Are Saying

Tenant advocates see something different: families being pushed out faster than ever before.

"Lives will be ruined because of this bill," said one advocate about the pending legislation. They argue the state is using a "hammer" to solve a "scalpel" problem.

They worry about due process disappearing and vulnerable populations getting hurt most.

They also have a point. Eviction affects children, elderly residents, and people with disabilities disproportionately.

Looking Ahead: What This Means for Lubbock

These statewide changes affect every Texas community, including Lubbock.

For renters: Be extra careful about lease compliance and payment timing. Get everything in writing. Keep detailed records of all payments and communications.

For housing providers: Document everything carefully. Follow notice requirements exactly. Consider alternatives to eviction when possible - mediation, payment plans, or voluntary move-outs often cost less than court.

The Lubbock Apartment Association works to help both sides understand these complex laws. When everyone knows the rules, the whole rental market works better.

The Bigger Picture

Texas eviction law is evolving toward efficiency over lengthy processes. This reflects the state's business-friendly approach and rapid growth.

Whether this serves everyone well long-term remains unclear. Faster processes help property owners protect their investments and might increase housing availability. But they also reduce the safety net for families facing temporary hardships.

The challenge is balance. How do you protect legitimate property rights while preventing unnecessary displacement?

Different people have different answers.

Bottom Line for Lubbock Renters

Know your rights. Understand the process. Get help early if you face problems.

Texas law provides specific protections, but you have to use them. Waiting until the last minute rarely works.

If you're struggling with rent, talk to your property manager before you fall behind. Many prefer working out solutions to going through eviction court.

If you're facing eviction, get legal help immediately. Free assistance exists, but you have to ask for it.

And remember: an eviction affects your housing options for years. It's worth fighting to avoid one if at all possible.

The rental market works best when both renters and housing providers understand their rights and responsibilities. That's what creates stable communities where everyone can thrive.

Organizations like the Lubbock Apartment Association exist to promote that understanding. Because when the rules are clear and fair, everyone benefits.