Texas state law preempts all local rent control, meaning Houston and other Texas cities cannot set limits on rent increases. However, Houston tenants still have protections under Texas Property Code Chapter 92, including security deposit rules, habitability standards, and notice requirements for lease termination.
Stabilized Buildings
47,746
Stabilized Units
1,029,623
Neighborhoods
42
Data Source
HCAD / City of Houston
Brooklyn
17,346 buildings
309,127 units
Manhattan
14,181 buildings
267,729 units
Bronx
7,610 buildings
265,584 units
Queens
8,573 buildings
185,792 units
Staten Island
36 buildings
1,391 units
Texas law explicitly prohibits local governments from enacting rent control ordinances. This means there are no rent stabilization protections for Houston tenants — landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice (typically 30 days for month-to-month, or at lease renewal for fixed-term leases).
Houston tenants are protected by the Texas Property Code (Chapter 92), which requires landlords to make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant, provide functioning smoke detectors, and follow specific procedures for security deposit handling. Landlords must return deposits within 30 days of move-out with an itemized list of deductions.
Houston is particularly vulnerable to flooding and hurricane damage. Tenants should check whether their building is in a FEMA-designated flood zone and understand their rights regarding habitability after storm damage. Landlords are required to disclose known flood risks, and tenants may have the right to terminate a lease if a property becomes substantially uninhabitable due to flood damage.
5 questions answered
Texas law explicitly prohibits local governments from enacting rent control ordinances. This means there are no rent stabilization protections for Houston tenants — landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice (typically 30 days for month-to-month, or at lease renewal for fixed-term leases).
Houston tenants are protected by the Texas Property Code (Chapter 92), which requires landlords to make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect the health or safety of an ordinary tenant, provide functioning smoke detectors, and follow specific procedures for security deposit handling. Landlords must return deposits within 30 days of move-out with an itemized list of deductions.
Search your building's address above to instantly check rent stabilization status based on public records. Houston is particularly vulnerable to flooding and hurricane damage. Tenants should check whether their building is in a FEMA-designated flood zone and understand their rights regarding habitability after storm damage. Landlords are required to disclose known flood risks, and tenants may have the right to terminate a lease if a property becomes substantially uninhabitable due to flood damage.
The NYC Rent Guidelines Board sets the maximum allowable rent increase each year for rent stabilized apartments. For 2023-2024, the increases were 3% for 1-year leases and 2.75% for the first year of 2-year leases.
Tenants in rent stabilized apartments who are overcharged can file a rent overcharge complaint with the DHCR. If a rent overcharge is found, the landlord must reimburse the overcharged amount, plus interest, and may face penalties.