Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.
Some tenants fear that their landlord will punish them if they complain about problems with their apartment. This kind of punishment is called "retaliation." Section 92.331 of the Texas Property Code describes unlawful landlord retaliation, noting:
A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant by taking an action described by Subsection (b) because the tenant:(1) in good faith exercises or attempts to exercise against a landlord a right or remedy granted to the tenant by lease, municipal ordinance, or federal or state statute;(2) gives a landlord a notice to repair or exercise a remedy under this chapter;(3) complains to a governmental entity responsible for enforcing building or housing codes, a public utility, or a civic or nonprofit agency, and the tenant:(A) claims a building or housing code violation or utility problem; and(B) believes in good faith that the complaint is valid and that the violation or problem occurred; or(4) establishes, attempts to establish, or participates in a tenant organization.
Under this law, a landlord may not retaliate by:
Section 92.333 says a tenant may recover the following from a landlord:
The statute has more details about the types of suits a tenant could file. It also says that the court will subtract delinquent rents or other debts the tenant owes.
Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.