By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 1184
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibiting a prospective residential landlord from
increasing the amount of rent during the rental application
process.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is
amended by adding Section 92.027 to read as follows:
Sec. 92.027. PROSPECTIVE LANDLORD PROHIBITED FROM
INCREASING RENT AMOUNT DURING APPLICATION PROCESS. (a) In this
section, "applicant," "landlord," and "rental application" have
the meanings assigned by Section 92.351.
(b) This section applies only to a rental application
provided by a landlord to an applicant that:
(1) provides that the applicant will be considered to
lease a specific rental unit; and
(2) states the monthly rent amount at which the
specified rental unit will be offered to an approved applicant.
(c) A landlord who approves a rental application to which
this section applies must provide to the applicant a written lease
agreement for the rental unit referenced in the application at the
monthly rent amount stated in the application.
(d) A landlord who violates this section is liable to the
applicant for an amount equal to the sum of $100, three times the
amount of any application fee or deposit, and the applicant's
reasonable attorney's fees.
SECTION 2. Section 92.027, Property Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to a rental application provided to an applicant
on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.