Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Texas

I am a landlord and have a tenant who has rented from me for the past five years with no problems. When I went to her house to pick up the rent on the 3rd of the month she was not home and was avoiding me. I finally caught up with her seven days later at the house in the wee hours of the morning. At this time she told me she was going to move. I tried to find out what the problem was and she informed me of an issue with her water running causing her to have an expensive bill. I offered to help her pay the bill but she insisted on moving, I then told her OK and told her when she needed to move. She then told me that the date I gave her would not work with her schedule. Although she has not paid any money at all for the month nor did she agree to pay for any days after the date I gave her. My question is can I have her evicted after 3 days and can I change the locks whether she has moved her things or not.


Asked on 9/17/09, 1:29 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Mark Dunn Mark D. Dunn

You'll want to take a good look at (1) your written lease and (2) Chapter 92 of the Texas Property Code.

You should NOT change the locks on the door.

Go to your local JP and start proceedings under "forcible entry and detainer." You will probably need to do written notice to the tenant first.

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Answered on 9/23/09, 12:23 pm


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