QUICK ANSWER

For the Texas real estate exam, landlord-tenant law is most likely to show up as a practical rights-and-notices topic: security deposit refunds, lawful deductions, landlord liens, lockouts, eviction notice timing, repair duties, retaliation, flood notices, and what a sales agent should or should not do in a leasing situation. Pearson's current Texas Sales Agent State Law content outline lists Landlord-Tenant Issues under Special Topics.

6
Special Topics items on the current Texas sales agent state-law outline
30 days
common deadline for residential security deposit refund or accounting after surrender
3 days
default written notice to vacate before many forcible detainer suits, unless changed by written agreement or law
6 months
retaliation window after protected tenant actions under Texas Property Code Chapter 92

Texas landlord tenant law for the exam is not about becoming a property manager overnight. It is about spotting the legal consequence hidden in a short fact pattern.

A tenant moves out and gives a forwarding address. A landlord keeps the entire security deposit for "cleaning." A broker manages rentals and a sales agent collects deposits. A landlord changes locks after nonpayment. A buyer wants to occupy before closing. Those are the kinds of situations where the exam can test whether you know the rule, the timing, and the brokerage trap.

This guide is written for Texas sales agent candidates. It is exam prep, not legal advice for a live dispute. For real transactions, a broker should use current forms, current law, and legal counsel when needed.

Table of Contents

Why Landlord-Tenant Law Matters on the Texas Exam

Snippet answer: Texas landlord-tenant law matters because the exam can turn one lease fact pattern into a question about deposits, possession, repairs, notices, forms, or broker supervision.

Landlord-tenant law sits at the intersection of contracts, property rights, agency, forms, and broker responsibility.

That is why candidates miss it. They study "leases" as a national topic, then study TREC rules separately, then treat security deposits and notices as tiny details. On the exam, those details may be blended into one scenario.

For example:

  • A lease is a contract and a possessory interest.
  • A security deposit is tenant money with statutory refund and accounting rules.
  • A landlord lien can attach to certain property, but residential exemptions matter.
  • A lockout can be lawful only under narrow conditions.
  • A sales agent does not independently manage money, draft legal language, or operate outside the sponsoring broker.

The goal is not to memorize every subsection of the Texas Property Code. The goal is to know the tested patterns well enough to choose the answer that respects Texas law and TREC practice.

Quick Facts To Memorize

Topic Exam-safe rule Why candidates miss it
Special Topics Pearson's current Texas sales agent state-law outline lists Special Topics as 6 items and includes Landlord-Tenant Issues. Candidates think landlord-tenant law is only national content.
Security deposit refund Texas Property Code Section 92.103 generally requires refund on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders, subject to forwarding address rules. Candidates forget the forwarding address issue.
Deductions A landlord may deduct lawful damages and charges but may not retain for normal wear and tear. "Damage" and "wear" get blurred.
Last month's rent A tenant may not simply withhold last month's rent because the deposit exists. The deposit is security, not automatic rent payment.
Residential landlord lien A residential landlord lien can attach to nonexempt property for unpaid rent, but only within strict limits. Candidates forget exempt property and lease authorization.
Notice to vacate Section 24.005 generally uses at least 3 days written notice before certain eviction suits unless a written lease or law changes the period. Candidates treat "3 days" as universal in every lease situation.
Month-to-month termination Section 91.001 has its own termination notice rules unless the parties agreed otherwise in a signed instrument. Notice to terminate and notice to vacate are not the same thing.
Repairs Section 92.052 ties repair duty to notice, rent status, and health or safety conditions. Candidates overstate "landlord must repair everything immediately."
Retaliation Section 92.331 prohibits certain landlord actions within 6 months after protected tenant actions. The exam may hide retaliation inside an eviction or rent-increase scenario.
Flood notice Section 92.0135 requires certain floodplain and flood history notices, with exceptions. Candidates may overlook newer leasing disclosure topics.

How The Exam Can Test Landlord-Tenant Law

Snippet answer: The Texas exam usually tests landlord-tenant law through practical scenarios, not isolated statute recitation. Your job is to identify whether the issue is possession, money, notice, tenant property, broker conduct, or a TREC form.

The Texas state-law angle

Pearson's current Texas Sales Agent State Law content outline, effective January 1, 2026, states that the state-law portion has 40 scored items. It lists Landlord-Tenant Issues under Special Topics.

That does not mean you should expect a standalone "landlord-tenant chapter quiz." It means landlord-tenant issues can appear as part of a Texas law scenario.

Watch for these words:

  • "security deposit"
  • "forwarding address"
  • "normal wear and tear"
  • "landlord lien"
  • "lockout"
  • "notice to vacate"
  • "month-to-month"
  • "retaliation"
  • "repairs"
  • "floodplain notice"
  • "buyer temporary residential lease"
  • "seller temporary residential lease"
  • "property manager"

The national/general angle

The national/general outline also touches leasehold estates, types of leases, property management agreements, leasing property, collecting rents and security deposits, and property management calculations.

So the exam can approach this topic from two directions:

If the question feels national If the question feels Texas-specific
Leasehold estate type Texas notice period
Periodic tenancy Security deposit refund rule
Estate at sufferance Landlord lien exemption
Gross, net, or percentage lease Floodplain notice
Property management agreement TREC form or broker supervision issue
Rent calculation Texas lockout or repair remedy

The skill the exam is really testing

Most landlord-tenant questions are not asking whether you can recite a code section number. They are asking whether you can classify the problem.

Ask yourself:

  1. Is this about possession?
  2. Is this about money held by a landlord or broker?
  3. Is this about notice timing?
  4. Is this about tenant property?
  5. Is this about a license holder's conduct?
  6. Is this about a TREC form or disclosure?

Once you classify the problem, the answer choices usually get much cleaner.

Leasehold Basics You Need Before Texas Law

Snippet answer: Know the four leasehold estates first: estate for years, periodic tenancy, estate at will, and estate at sufferance. Then connect them to Texas notice rules.

A lease gives the tenant possession for a period of time. The landlord keeps ownership, but the tenant has a right to occupy under the lease.

Know these leasehold estates:

Leasehold estate Plain-English meaning Exam clue
Estate for years Lease for a definite period, such as one year. Has a fixed start and end date.
Periodic tenancy Renews from period to period, such as month to month. Continues until proper notice terminates it.
Estate at will No fixed term and can be ended by either party. Less common in modern written leases.
Estate at sufferance Tenant originally had lawful possession but stays after the right to possess ends. Holdover tenant.

For Texas exam purposes, do not stop at the vocabulary. Connect the vocabulary to notices.

A month-to-month tenant may require termination notice under Texas Property Code Section 91.001. A tenant who defaults or holds over may require notice to vacate before an eviction suit under Section 24.005. Those are related, but not identical.

Security Deposits In Texas

Snippet answer: A Texas security deposit is money held to secure lease performance. For exam purposes, know the 30-day refund/accounting rule, the forwarding address rule, lawful deductions, normal wear and tear, and the last-month's-rent trap.

Security deposits are one of the most testable landlord-tenant topics because they feel familiar, but Texas adds timing and notice rules that change the answer. Do not treat a deposit like casual money sitting in a drawer. It is tied to statutory refund duties, itemized deductions, and broker money-handling rules when a license holder is involved.

What is a security deposit?

Texas Property Code Section 92.102 defines a security deposit as an advance of money, other than a rental application deposit or advance rent, intended primarily to secure performance under a dwelling lease.

For the exam, translate that into a simpler test: why was the money paid? If the money is mainly there to protect the landlord if the tenant fails to perform under the lease, think security deposit. If the money is for applying, screening, or paying rent in advance, do not automatically call it a security deposit.

Exam translation:

Money paid Likely classification
Deposit to secure lease performance Security deposit
Application deposit Not the same as a security deposit
First month's rent paid in advance Advance rent, not a security deposit
Fee in lieu of security deposit Special statutory rules apply

When must a security deposit be returned?

Under Section 92.103, the landlord generally must refund the security deposit on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises, except as provided by the forwarding address rule.

Here is the exam-friendly version: surrender starts the move-out side of the timeline, but the written forwarding address controls when the landlord's refund or accounting obligation kicks in. Under Section 92.107, the landlord is not obligated to return the deposit or give the written description of damages and charges until the tenant gives a written forwarding address for refund purposes.

That does not mean the tenant loses the deposit forever. The statute says the tenant does not forfeit the right to a refund merely by failing to give the forwarding address. That is the trap.

Scenario Best exam answer
Tenant surrenders and gives forwarding address Start watching the 30-day refund or accounting rule.
Tenant surrenders but gives no forwarding address Landlord's duty to refund or account is delayed, but tenant has not forfeited the right.
Landlord keeps deposit for normal wear Not allowed under Section 92.104.
Tenant withholds last month's rent because deposit exists Not allowed under Section 92.108.

What can the landlord deduct?

Section 92.104 allows deductions for damages and charges for which the tenant is legally liable under the lease or because of breach. It also says the landlord may not retain any portion of the deposit for normal wear and tear.

Think of it this way: the landlord can charge for legal responsibility, not ordinary aging. A rental unit will show signs of normal use. The exam usually wants you to separate normal wear from tenant-caused damage, unpaid rent, or lease-based charges.

Condition after move-out Likely result
Faded paint from ordinary use Normal wear and tear
Carpet worn from ordinary walking Normal wear and tear
Broken door caused by tenant damage Possible lawful deduction
Unpaid rent owed under lease Possible lawful deduction
General cleaning charge with no lease or damage basis Questionable, depending on facts

If the landlord keeps all or part of the deposit, Section 92.104 generally requires the balance, if any, plus a written description and itemized list of deductions. There is an exception if the tenant owes rent when surrendering and there is no controversy about the amount owed.

What happens if the landlord acts in bad faith?

Section 92.109 is the penalty section to recognize, not necessarily to memorize word for word. A landlord who in bad faith retains a security deposit in violation of the subchapter can be liable for $100, three times the wrongfully withheld portion, and reasonable attorney's fees. The section also creates consequences for failing to provide the written description and itemized list when required.

Do not read "bad faith" into every dispute. The exam may give you facts showing a missed deadline, no itemized list, or clearly improper retention.

Landlord Liens In Texas

Snippet answer: Texas landlord liens can attach to tenant property for rent, but commercial and residential rules are different. Residential liens are heavily limited by exempt property, written lease authorization, notice, and no breach of peace.

Landlord liens are tested because they sound like a landlord can simply grab property for unpaid rent. That is not the exam-safe conclusion. The safer approach is to ask three questions: is it commercial or residential, what property is covered, and did the landlord follow the required procedure?

Texas Property Code Chapter 54 covers landlord liens. The important distinction is commercial versus residential.

Commercial building landlord lien

For nonresidential use, Section 54.021 gives a landlord a preference lien on tenant or subtenant property in the building for rent that is due and rent that is to become due during the current 12-month period succeeding the start of the rental agreement or an anniversary of that date.

Section 54.022 says the lien is unenforceable for rent on a commercial building that is more than six months past due unless the landlord files a lien statement with the county clerk in the county where the building is located.

Exam translation: commercial landlord liens are about business premises, business property, rent timing, and county filing when older rent is involved.

Commercial fact pattern Rule to remember
Tenant owes current rent Building landlord lien may be relevant.
Rent is more than six months past due Filing a lien statement becomes important for enforceability.
Tenant's business property is in the leased building Lien may attach, subject to statute and priority issues.

Residential landlord lien

Section 54.041 says a landlord of a single or multifamily residence has a lien for unpaid rent that is due. The lien attaches to nonexempt property in the residence or stored by the tenant in a storage room.

The words "nonexempt property" do most of the work. A residential landlord lien does not mean the landlord can take every item in the apartment. The statute protects many everyday items a tenant needs to live, work, eat, dress, and care for a household.

Section 54.042 lists property that is exempt from the residential landlord lien, including wearing apparel, tools and books of a trade or profession, schoolbooks, family library, family pictures, certain furniture, beds and bedding, kitchen furniture and utensils, food, medicine, one automobile and one truck, children's toys not commonly used by adults, property known to belong to someone else, and property known to be subject to a recorded chattel mortgage or financing agreement.

Residential lien enforcement traps

Section 54.043 says a contractual landlord's lien is not enforceable unless it is underlined or printed in conspicuous bold print in the lease.

Section 54.044 says the landlord or agent may not seize exempt property and may seize nonexempt property only if authorized by a written lease and only if it can be done without breach of the peace. Immediately after seizing property, the landlord or agent must leave written notice of entry and an itemized list of removed items in a conspicuous place in the dwelling.

Section 54.045 says seized property may not be sold or otherwise disposed of unless the sale or disposition is authorized in a written lease. Before selling, the landlord must give notice not later than the 30th day before the sale by both first class mail and certified mail, return receipt requested, at the tenant's last known address.

That is a lot of detail, but the exam pattern is simple: if the facts show surprise entry, exempt property, no written lease authorization, no itemized notice, or a rushed sale, the answer is probably about an improper residential landlord lien.

If the landlord... The exam concern is...
Takes exempt property Violation of residential lien limits
Seizes property without written lease authorization Improper seizure
Causes a disturbance or breach of peace Improper seizure
Fails to leave notice and itemized list Violation of seizure procedure
Sells property without written lease authorization or 30-day notice Improper sale

Tenant Notices, Lockouts, Repairs, And Retaliation

Snippet answer: For Texas landlord-tenant notices, separate the problem before choosing a rule: termination, notice to vacate, lockout, repair notice, retaliation, and flood disclosure are different legal buckets.

This is the section where candidates usually know a rule, but use it in the wrong place. "Three days" is a notice-to-vacate idea. It is not the answer to every lease termination, repair, lockout, or flood disclosure question.

Notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy

Section 91.001 applies to certain tenancy terminations. For a monthly tenancy or month-to-month tenancy, either landlord or tenant may terminate by giving notice. If the rent-paying period is at least one month, the tenancy terminates on the later of the day given in the notice or one month after notice is given, unless the parties agreed differently in a signed instrument or a recognized breach changes the situation.

Put plainly: this is the "how do we end an ongoing month-to-month tenancy?" rule. Do not confuse it with notice to vacate, which belongs to the eviction path.

Notice to vacate before eviction

Section 24.005 is the notice-to-vacate rule candidates most often see. For a tenant under a written lease or oral rental agreement who defaults or holds over, the landlord generally must give at least three days' written notice to vacate before filing a forcible detainer suit, unless the parties contracted for a shorter or longer period in a written lease or agreement.

The current statute also includes notice methods, including mail, delivery inside the premises in a conspicuous place, hand delivery to a tenant at least 16 years old, or electronic communication if the parties agreed in writing.

Exam shorthand: if the landlord wants possession because the tenant defaulted or held over, think notice to vacate before court. Always verify current law for real disputes because eviction procedures can change.

Lockouts are not self-help eviction shortcuts

Section 92.0081 sharply limits lockouts and removal of property. The exam point is simple: Texas does not treat a lockout as a casual rent-collection tool.

A landlord generally may not intentionally prevent a tenant from entering the leased premises except by judicial process, with narrow exceptions such as bona fide repairs, construction, an emergency, abandoned property, or lock changes for rent delinquency if the statute's conditions are met.

For rent delinquency lock changes, the exam-relevant points are:

  • The lease must include the landlord's right to change locks for failure to timely pay rent.
  • Advance notice is required.
  • The landlord must provide the new key at any hour, regardless of whether the tenant pays the delinquent rent.
  • The lock change cannot happen when the tenant or another legal occupant is in the dwelling.
  • The statute provides tenant remedies for violations.

If an answer choice says the landlord can lock the tenant out until rent is paid, be suspicious. The key-access rule is usually the giveaway.

Repairs and tenant remedies

Section 92.052 says a landlord must make a diligent effort to repair or remedy a condition if:

  • the tenant gives notice to the person or place where rent is normally paid,
  • the tenant is not delinquent in rent when notice is given, and
  • the condition materially affects the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant, or involves failure to provide and maintain hot water at the required minimum temperature.

Section 92.056 adds notice and timing rules before landlord liability and tenant remedies arise. It includes a rebuttable presumption that seven days is a reasonable time to repair or remedy, depending on the date of notice, the severity and nature of the condition, and availability of materials, labor, and utilities.

For the exam, read repair questions in order. Did the tenant give proper notice? Was the tenant current on rent when notice was given? Does the condition affect health or safety, or required hot water? Has the landlord had a reasonable time? Only then should you jump to remedies.

Do not overstate the rule. Texas law does not say every inconvenience lets a tenant stop paying rent.

Retaliation

Section 92.331 prohibits a landlord from retaliating against a tenant because the tenant, in good faith, exercises rights or remedies, gives repair notice, complains to certain government or utility entities about valid issues, or participates in a tenant organization.

The statute also prohibits certain landlord actions within six months after the tenant's protected action, including filing an eviction proceeding except for allowed grounds, depriving use of premises, decreasing services, increasing rent, terminating the lease, or acting in bad faith in a way that materially interferes with lease rights.

This topic is tailor-made for fact patterns. A tenant complains about a serious condition, then the landlord raises rent, cuts services, or files eviction soon after. That timing should make you check retaliation.

Section 92.332 gives nonretaliation defenses for landlords, including valid grounds such as delinquent rent or material lease breach. So do not assume every eviction after a complaint is retaliation. Read the facts.

Flood notices

Texas Property Code Section 92.0135 requires certain written notices about whether the landlord is aware the dwelling is in a 100-year floodplain and whether the dwelling flooded during the five-year period before the lease effective date. TREC's Landlord's Floodplain and Flood Notice may be used to fulfill the disclosure requirements of Section 92.0135.

The exam clue is a rental dwelling plus floodplain or prior flooding facts. The statute has exceptions, including leases with a term of less than 30 days and certain temporary residential tenancies created by a contract for sale where the buyer occupies before closing or the seller occupies after closing for a specific term not greater than 90 days.

Leasing Traps For Texas Sales Agents

Snippet answer: Leasing becomes a TREC issue when a license holder handles money, gives legal advice, uses the wrong form, misses an agency disclosure rule, advertises improperly, or acts outside the sponsoring broker's supervision.

This is where landlord-tenant law becomes a licensing question. On the exam, the tenant problem may be only half the question. The other half may be what the Texas sales agent is allowed to do.

Trap 1: Treating lease money casually

If a license holder receives money belonging to others, broker supervision and trust account rules matter. TREC's FAQ says a sales agent may not have an escrow account and must turn money received over to the sponsoring broker. TREC also says a broker is not required to have a trust or escrow account unless the broker agrees to hold money belonging to others or act as escrow agent.

Exam pattern:

Fact Better answer
Sales agent personally holds a tenant's deposit Money should go through the sponsoring broker's process.
Broker agrees to hold tenant funds Trust account and recordkeeping duties matter.
Agent says "I will just keep it until move-in" Red flag.

Trap 2: Drafting legal lease language

Unauthorized practice of law is a recurring TREC topic. A sales agent should not draft custom legal provisions, interpret a lease as legal counsel, or tell a party how to enforce rights in a live dispute.

That does not mean a license holder can never fill blanks in appropriate forms under broker supervision. It does mean the license holder must know where the line is.

Safe exam answer: use promulgated or broker-approved forms when appropriate, follow broker policy, and recommend legal counsel for legal rights or custom drafting.

Trap 3: Assuming TREC has a standard long-term residential lease

TREC has leasing-related forms, including Buyer's Temporary Residential Lease, Seller's Temporary Residential Lease, Addendum Regarding Residential Leases, and Landlord's Floodplain and Flood Notice. TREC's temporary residential lease forms are limited to short occupancy tied to a sales contract. TREC's current descriptions state the buyer form is used only when the buyer occupies for no more than 90 days before closing, and the seller form is used only when the seller occupies for no more than 90 days after closing.

Do not confuse those with a general apartment lease or long-term residential lease.

Trap 4: Missing the IABS leasing exception

TREC's FAQ on Information About Brokerage Services says IABS is not required when a transaction is for a residential lease less than one year and a sale is not being considered. That is an exception, not a universal rule that leases never involve representation disclosures.

Trap 5: Advertising or placing signs without authority

TREC's FAQ says TREC may suspend or revoke a license if a license holder places a sign on property offering it for lease or rental without written permission of the owner or authorized agent. Leasing activity is still brokerage activity. The broker's supervision and advertising rules do not disappear because the transaction is a lease.

Decision Tables

Deposit decision table

Question If yes If no
Was the money intended to secure performance under a dwelling lease? Treat as security deposit. It may be application deposit, advance rent, fee, or something else.
Did the tenant surrender possession? Refund/accounting timing becomes important. Deposit return may not be due yet.
Did the tenant give a written forwarding address? Landlord generally must refund or account within the statutory period. Obligation is delayed, but right is not forfeited.
Is the deduction for normal wear and tear? Not a lawful deposit deduction. Check lease liability and actual damage.
Did the tenant withhold final rent because of the deposit? Section 92.108 issue. Analyze ordinary payment and surrender facts.

Notice decision table

Situation Rule bucket
Month-to-month tenancy being ended Section 91.001 termination notice
Tenant defaults or holds over and landlord wants possession Section 24.005 notice to vacate
Tenant reports health or safety repair issue Section 92.052 and 92.056 notice and repair rules
Landlord changes locks for rent delinquency Section 92.0081 lockout rules
Tenant complains and rent increases soon after Section 92.331 retaliation analysis
Property is in floodplain or had recent flood damage Section 92.0135 flood notice

Original Learning Examples

These are original learning examples. They are not copied exam questions and they are not official Pearson questions.

Example 1: Security deposit and forwarding address

A tenant moves out on May 1 but does not give a forwarding address until May 20. The landlord does not have to refund or account before receiving the written forwarding address, but the tenant has not forfeited the right to the deposit. Once the forwarding address is given, analyze the refund and accounting duties.

The exam trap is treating "no forwarding address" as "landlord keeps the deposit forever."

Example 2: Last month's rent

A tenant says, "Use my deposit for the last month's rent." Texas Property Code Section 92.108 says the tenant may not withhold last month's rent on the ground that the security deposit secures unpaid rent. The better exam answer is that the tenant should pay rent and handle the deposit refund separately.

Example 3: Residential landlord lien

A residential landlord enters the unit and removes a tenant's bed, children's toys, and work tools after unpaid rent. That should feel wrong. Section 54.042 exempts categories of property, and Section 54.044 limits seizure to nonexempt property authorized by a written lease and accomplished without breach of peace.

Example 4: Lockout

A landlord changes the lock for delinquent rent and tells the tenant, "No key until you pay." That is the exam red flag. Texas lockout rules require a key at any hour regardless of whether delinquent rent is paid, if the landlord uses the rent-delinquency lock-change process.

Example 5: Sales agent property management

A sponsored sales agent helps lease a property and personally holds a tenant's security deposit in a personal account. That is not a casual convenience. TREC supervision and money-handling rules point back to the sponsoring broker.

Common Mistakes

Mistake Better way to think
"Three days is always the notice rule." Section 24.005 is important, but leases, federal law, foreclosure, and termination rules can change the analysis.
"The landlord can keep the deposit if the tenant forgets a forwarding address." The refund/accounting duty is delayed, but the right is not forfeited merely because no address was given.
"Deposit equals last month's rent." Section 92.108 says the tenant may not withhold last month's rent on that ground.
"A landlord lien means the landlord can take whatever property is inside." Residential landlord liens have exemptions and strict enforcement rules.
"A landlord can lock out a nonpaying tenant until payment." Texas lockout rules require key access even if rent is unpaid.
"Every repair issue lets a tenant stop paying." Repair remedies depend on notice, rent status, health or safety, reasonable time, and statutory procedure.
"Leasing is easier, so TREC rules matter less." Leasing is brokerage activity when performed for others for compensation. Broker supervision still matters.
"Temporary residential lease forms can be used for any lease." TREC's buyer and seller temporary residential lease forms are tied to short occupancy around a sales contract.

Study Plan

Use this sequence when you review Texas landlord tenant law for the exam.

Step What to study What you should be able to do
1 Leasehold estates Identify estate for years, periodic tenancy, at will, and sufferance.
2 Security deposits Explain 30-day refund/accounting, forwarding address, lawful deductions, and bad-faith penalties.
3 Landlord liens Separate commercial building lien from residential landlord lien.
4 Notices Separate termination notice, notice to vacate, repair notice, flood notice, and lockout notice.
5 Tenant rights Recognize repair remedies, unlawful lockout, retaliation, and flood disclosure consequences.
6 Brokerage traps Tie leasing facts back to broker supervision, trust funds, IABS exceptions, forms, and unauthorized practice of law.
7 Mini-scenarios Practice classifying the issue before choosing an answer.

The best drill is not "read the code once." It is to make one-page comparison tables for deposits, liens, and notices, then run short fact patterns until the issue jumps out quickly.

TEXAS SPECIAL TOPICS PRACTICE

Turn landlord-tenant rules into exam decisions.

The Texas real estate exam prep app is built for Texas sales agent candidates: original Texas-focused practice questions, national and state review, math drills, case-study practice, flashcards, and weak-area feedback. Use it to practice landlord-tenant scenarios where deposits, liens, notices, broker duties, and tenant rights are mixed into one fact pattern. Native Texas exam prep. Original questions. No copied exam questions. Not affiliated with TREC or Pearson VUE. Not a 180-hour pre-license course or a pass guarantee.

Practice Texas landlord-tenant questions

What To Pair With This

Pair this article with Why it helps Internal link
Texas real estate exam guide See how landlord-tenant law fits into the full exam. /texas-real-estate-exam
Texas exam format Understand national versus state-law structure. /texas-real-estate-exam-format
TREC explained Connect landlord-tenant topics to TREC authority and license holder rules. /trec-explained-texas-real-estate-exam
IABS form guide Review leasing disclosure exceptions and agency communication. /agency-disclosure-iabs-form-texas-real-estate-exam
Trust accounts and commingling Reinforce how tenant funds and deposits should be handled. /texas-real-estate-trust-accounts-earnest-money-commingling
Free Texas practice test Apply these rules in question format. /free-texas-real-estate-practice-test

FAQ

Is landlord-tenant law on the Texas real estate exam?

Yes. Pearson's current Texas Sales Agent State Law content outline lists Landlord-Tenant Issues under Special Topics. The national/general outline also includes leasehold estates, types of leases, property management agreements, leasing property, collecting rents and security deposits, and tenancy calculations.

What is the most important Texas landlord-tenant topic to know first?

Start with security deposits. Know what a security deposit is, when it generally must be refunded or accounted for, the forwarding address rule, normal wear and tear, bad-faith retention, and why the tenant cannot simply use the deposit as last month's rent.

How many days does a Texas landlord have to return a security deposit?

Texas Property Code Section 92.103 generally requires refund on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises, except as provided by the forwarding address rule in Section 92.107. The landlord's obligation is delayed until the tenant gives a written forwarding address for refund purposes, but the tenant does not forfeit the refund right merely by failing to give the address.

Can a Texas landlord deduct normal wear and tear from a security deposit?

No. Texas Property Code Section 92.104 says the landlord may not retain any portion of a security deposit to cover normal wear and tear. For exam purposes, separate ordinary use from damage or charges for which the tenant is legally liable.

Can a tenant use the security deposit as last month's rent in Texas?

No. Texas Property Code Section 92.108 says a tenant may not withhold any portion of the last month's rent on the ground that the security deposit is security for unpaid rent.

What is a residential landlord lien in Texas?

Under Texas Property Code Section 54.041, a landlord of a single or multifamily residence has a lien for unpaid rent due, attaching to nonexempt property in the residence or stored by the tenant in a storage room. Sections 54.042 through 54.046 place major limits on exempt property, lease authorization, seizure, sale, and landlord liability.

Can a Texas landlord lock out a tenant for unpaid rent?

Texas Property Code Section 92.0081 allows lock changes for rent delinquency only under narrow conditions. The lease must allow it, notices and timing matter, and the landlord must provide a key at any hour regardless of whether the tenant pays the delinquent rent. A lockout is not a shortcut around the eviction process.

What is the Texas notice to vacate rule for the exam?

Texas Property Code Section 24.005 generally requires at least three days' written notice to vacate before filing certain forcible detainer suits against a tenant who defaults or holds over, unless a written lease or agreement provides a shorter or longer period or another law affects the timing. Verify current law before applying this in a real case.

What is the difference between notice to terminate and notice to vacate?

Notice to terminate ends or sets the ending of a tenancy, such as a month-to-month tenancy under Section 91.001. Notice to vacate is part of the possession and eviction process under Section 24.005. The exam may give facts that require both concepts.

What should a Texas sales agent remember about leases and TREC forms?

TREC has several leasing-related forms, including Buyer's Temporary Residential Lease, Seller's Temporary Residential Lease, Addendum Regarding Residential Leases, and Landlord's Floodplain and Flood Notice. The buyer and seller temporary lease forms are for short occupancy tied to a sales contract, not a general long-term lease.

Is the Texas real estate exam prep app useful for landlord-tenant law?

Yes. The Texas real estate exam prep app can help you practice original scenarios on deposits, notices, landlord liens, tenant rights, leasing forms, and broker supervision. Native Texas exam prep. Original questions. No copied exam questions. Not affiliated with TREC or Pearson VUE. Not a 180-hour pre-license course or a pass guarantee.

Are these landlord-tenant rules legal advice?

No. This article is exam prep for Texas sales agent candidates. It summarizes common tested concepts from official sources. For a live landlord-tenant dispute or transaction, use current law, current forms, broker guidance, and legal counsel when appropriate.

Primary-source verification (2026-06-16): This article was checked against TREC's sales agent licensing page, TREC rules and laws resources, TREC leasing-related form pages, Pearson VUE's Texas Real Estate exam page, Pearson VUE's January 2026 Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook, Pearson VUE's 2026 Texas Real Estate Content Outlines, and current Texas Property Code chapters 24, 54, 91, and 92. Requirements, fees, exam policies, forms, and procedures can change. Verify current details with TREC, Pearson VUE, and the Texas statutes before making licensing, scheduling, property management, or legal decisions.

Sources And Methodology

This article uses official sources first. The exam scope was checked against Pearson VUE's Texas content outlines and candidate handbook. Texas licensing and form references were checked against TREC pages. Statutory rules were checked against current Texas Property Code chapter pages through the Texas Constitution and Statutes site.

The article intentionally avoids copied exam wording and uses original learning examples. It is designed for sales agent candidates, so it emphasizes classification, timing, and license-holder risk rather than deep litigation procedure.