Free Texas repair request letter template

Short answer: Copy the template below, fill in the blanks in your own words, and send it to the person or place where you pay rent (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056(b)(1)). Keep a copy, your photos, and any mailing tracking. This template is general information, not legal advice. Change anything that doesn't fit your situation.

Before you start

• Check your lease for where and how repair requests must be sent. If your lease is written and requires written notice, the notice has to be in writing (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052(d)).
• Find the address where you pay rent. That's where the law looks for notice.
• Take dated photos: one wide shot and one close-up of each problem.

The template

[Your full name]
[Your street address, unit number]
[City], Texas [ZIP]
[Your phone] · [Your email]

[Today's date]

To: [Landlord or management company name]
[Address where you pay rent]
[City], Texas [ZIP]

Re: Repair request for [your street address, unit number]

I am writing to ask you to repair the following condition at my home:

[Describe the problem in your own words. What is wrong, where it is,
and when it started. Example format: "The ___ in the ___ has ___
since ___."]

How it affects my household:
[In your own words. For example, who lives with you, and how the
problem affects daily life or safety.]

When I reported it before:
[Dates and how: call, portal, email, in person. Write "none" if this
is your first report.]

I have attached [number] dated photos of the condition.

Please contact me at [phone/email] to schedule the repair. [Optional:
times you are available, and whether entry is OK when you're away.]

Thank you,

[Your signature]
[Your printed name]

Tips for filling it in

1. Use your own words. Plain, specific facts are best: what, where, since when.
2. One letter can list more than one problem. Number each one.
3. Stay factual and polite. Leave out threats or legal conclusions. If you're thinking about anything beyond asking for the repair, talk with legal aid first.
4. Keep everything. A copy of the letter, the photos, the mailing tracking, and a dated log of every reply.
5. Keep using the portal too. Screenshot each request. A portal request is not the same as a mailed notice.

How long does the landlord have?

The clock does not start when the email is sent. Under Texas Property Code § 92.056(c), the landlord is considered to have received the notice when the landlord or the landlord's agent or employee has actually received it, or when the Postal Service has attempted to deliver it. Under § 92.056(d), seven days after that date is a rebuttable presumption of a reasonable time, not a deadline. Paying, or handing the letter to the mail service, also does not start the clock. Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056(c) and (d). Broken locks and other security devices have their own rule; see broken locks and security devices.

Problem-specific guides

AC · No heat · Mold · No hot water · Leaks · Plumbing · Sewage · Electrical · Pests · Locks · Windows · Appliances · All problems and cities

Where to get free help

• TexasLawHelp.org: free legal information and forms for Texans.
• Lone Star Legal Aid (Houston and Southeast Texas): 713-652-0077 · 800-733-8394
• Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (Dallas, Fort Worth, North and West Texas): landlord-tenant line 855-548-8457
• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (Central, South and West Texas): trla.org
• Your city's 311 or code enforcement for housing code problems. A city complaint is a separate step from your request to the landlord. One doesn't replace the other.
• State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Information Service: texasbar.com/lris

More questions? See our FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Texas repair request have to be in writing?

The repair duty requires written notice only if your lease is in writing and requires it (§ 92.052(d)). Other parts of the law refer to written or mailed notices, so putting it in writing is usually a good idea. Not legal advice. Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052(d).

Where do I send my repair letter?

To the person to whom, or the place where, your rent is normally paid. Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056(b)(1).

How long does my landlord have to fix it?

The clock does not start when the email is sent. Under Texas Property Code § 92.056(c), the landlord is considered to have received the notice when the landlord or the landlord's agent or employee has actually received it, or when the Postal Service has attempted to deliver it. Under § 92.056(d), seven days after that date is a rebuttable presumption of a reasonable time, not a deadline. Paying, or handing the letter to the mail service, also does not start the clock.

Can I use this template for free?

Yes. Copy it, print it, or paste it into an email. Emailing a letter is not the same as sending it by certified mail.

Rather not print and mail it yourself?

You can use this template on your own for free. Or, for $19 paid once, In Writing Solutions helps you write your notice in your own words with up to six photos, emails the same PDF to your landlord, and mails it by USPS Certified Mail to the address where you pay rent, with the USPS tracking saved. A certified letter can go unclaimed. You read the notice before anything is sent.

Start your $19 notice · See a sample first · Get the free checklist

Not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page is general information, not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Laws change; check the current law or ask a lawyer.