Texas law requires landlords to refund security deposits within 30 days after renters move out of an apartment or home. <\/p>\n
Still, complaints are common about tenants waiting months for money that is rightfully theirs.<\/p>\n
One Houston renter wrote to \u20182 Helps You\u2019 saying she\u2019s been waiting for months for her security deposit. <\/p>\n
Investigator Amy Davis started asking questions, and that led to 25+ people getting deposit refunds. <\/p>\n
How long do landlords have to return the security deposit?<\/p>\n
Landlords have 30 days from the date you move out<\/a> to send you the security deposit you paid when you moved in.<\/p>\n But tenants have obligations. <\/p>\n You cannot break your lease<\/p>\n Must give 30 days\u2019 notice in writing or as your lease requires before moving<\/p>\n Provide your landlord with a forwarding address<\/p>\n One woman who lived at Allen Parkway Village for 17 years said she followed all those steps when she moved out in April.<\/p>\n Seventeen years ago, she paid a $250 security deposit.<\/p>\n But when she called the office and the Houston Housing Authority<\/a>, they told her several times they were still working on her refund.<\/p>\n Landlords don\u2019t get extra time under the Texas Property Code.<\/a><\/p>\n If they claim you damaged the apartment and keep some or all of the deposit, the law requires them to send you a written list of deductions within 30 days of your move-out.<\/p>\n Calls from KPRC result in deposit refunds for other renters<\/p>\n When 2 Investigates reached out to the Houston Housing Authority and Allen Parkway Village, a spokesperson emailed:<\/p>\n \u201cUpon outreach from KPRC, Houston Housing Authority (HHA) staff reviewed (the renter\u2019s) account and determined she was owed a credit in addition to her outstanding security deposit. A check for $1,092 was cut and hand-delivered to her today.<\/p>\n In the course of reviewing this situation, HHA also identified 26 other former Allen Parkway Village residents who are owed security deposit refunds. Those payments will be issued next week.”<\/p>\n HHA told 2 Investigates it is reviewing its internal policies and procedures to identify the root cause of the issue. They apologized for the inconvenience to residents and said they will do better going forward.<\/p>\n What if my landlord never responds to my questions? <\/p>\n If your former landlord is ignoring you and hasn\u2019t returned your deposit, you can take them to small claims court, where you are entitled to three times the amount of your security deposit.<\/p>\n SEE: Landlord security deposit return demand letter<\/a><\/p>\n