Houston landlord won't make repairs? Local rules and help

Short answer: Texas state repair law applies in Houston like everywhere in Texas: a landlord must make a diligent effort to repair a condition that materially affects the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant, once you've given notice to the person or place where you pay rent and the other conditions in the law are met (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052). Houston also has its own city rules and a city complaint process. Those are separate from your written request to the landlord. One doesn't replace the other.

Houston city rules that may apply

Air conditioning. Houston City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2026-0732 on Aug 19, 2026, which sets a cooling standard for rental units and gave owners a compliance period. Check with Houston 311 on whether it is being enforced yet. Source: Houston City Council minutes, Aug. 18–19, 2026, Item 44 (houstontx.gov/citysec/agenda/2026/20260818.pdf); Council committee packet (houstontx.gov/council/committees/propa/20260728/right-to-air-conditioning.pdf).

Heat. Houston city code sets a standard for heating equipment able to keep 70°F inside, measured three feet above the floor, when it is 20°F outside, enforced by the city. You can report a problem to Houston 311. Source: Houston Code § 10-363; City of Houston Office of Emergency Management (houstonemergency.org).

These are city enforcement standards, enforced by the city. They aren't something a tenant enforces in court.

How to report a problem to the City of Houston

Report to the city: call 311 or 713-837-0311. Source: houstontx.gov/311/about.html

Tips: give the exact address and unit number, describe the problem, and ask for the inspector's name and a case number. Keep the number in your log.

Houston tenant resources

City of Houston Tenants' Rights Handbook (PDF): houstontx.gov/housing/fair-housing/handbooks/Tenants%20Rights%20Handbook.pdf
Lone Star Legal Aid (Houston and Southeast Texas): 713-652-0077 · 800-733-8394
TexasLawHelp.org: free legal information and forms.
State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Information Service: texasbar.com/lris

Common problems in Houston rentals

AC · No heat · Mold · No hot water · Leaking ceiling or roof · Plumbing leaks · Sewage backup · Electrical · Pests and roaches · Broken locks · Broken windows · Appliances

How to ask for the repair in writing

Say what's wrong, in your own words. What failed, where it is, and the date you first noticed it. Keep it short and factual.
Add photos. Take a wide shot so it's clear where the problem is, then a close-up. Keep the originals with their dates.
Send it to where you pay rent. The law looks at notice given to the person to whom, or the place where, rent is normally paid (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056(b)(1)). You can also email the manager, but emailing a PDF is not the same as sending it by certified mail.
Keep copies and a simple log. Save your letter, photos, tracking, and a dated log of every call, visit, or reply.
Keep using the portal if you have one. Take a screenshot of each request. A portal request is not the same as a mailed notice.

For a fill-in-the-blank version, use the free Texas repair request letter template, or get the free Texas Tenant Repair Checklist. See all problems and cities on Texas repair problems.

The basics of your repair rights

The landlord has a duty to repair serious problems. Not every repair qualifies. Texas law says a landlord must make a diligent effort to repair or remedy a condition that materially affects the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant, once the tenant has told the landlord and the other conditions are met. Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052(a).

Rent status matters. The statute says the duty applies when "the tenant is not delinquent in the payment of rent at the time notice is given." If you have questions about your rent balance, talk with legal aid before sending a notice. Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052(a)(2) and § 92.056(b)(6).

Check your lease about written notice. If your lease is written and requires written notice, the repair notice has to be in writing. Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.052(d).

Time to repair. 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).

Thinking about anything bigger? The law has other remedies, but each has strict requirements and a misstep can cause serious problems. If you're thinking about any step beyond asking for the repair, like changes to your rent or lease, talk with a lawyer or legal aid first. Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.056(e); Texas Attorney General, "Renter's Rights."

Frequently asked questions

Who do I call in Houston if my landlord won't fix something?

You can report housing code problems to the City of Houston (see the contact above). That's separate from your written repair request to the landlord, which goes to the person or place where you pay rent. 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.

Is there free legal help in Houston?

Yes. See the legal aid listed above, or TexasLawHelp.org.

Want us to send it for you?

In Writing Solutions helps you write your repair notice in your own words, with up to six photos. For $19, paid once, we email the same PDF to your landlord and mail it by USPS Certified Mail to the address where you pay rent. The USPS tracking is saved with your notice. 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.

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