Sec. 92.019. LATE PAYMENT OF RENT; FEES. (a) A landlord may not charge a tenant a late fee for failing to pay rent unless:
(1) notice of the fee is included in a written lease;
(2) the fee is a reasonable estimate of uncertain damages to the landlord that are incapable of precise calculation and result from late payment of rent; and
(3) the rent has remained unpaid one full day after the date the rent was originally due.
(b) A late fee under this section may include an initial fee and a daily fee for each day the rent continues to remain unpaid.
(c) A landlord who violates this section is liable to the tenant for an amount equal to the sum of $100, three times the amount of the late fee charged in violation of this section, and the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees.
(d) A provision of a lease that purports to waive a right or exempt a party from a liability or duty under this section is void.
(e) This section relates only to a fee, charge, or other sum of money required to be paid under the lease if rent is not paid as provided by Subsection (a)(3), and does not affect the landlord's right to terminate the lease or take other action permitted by the lease or other law. Payment of the fee, charge, or other sum of money by a tenant does not waive the right or remedies provided by this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 917 (H.B. 3101), Sec. 3, eff. January 1, 2008.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1268 (H.B. 1109), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Section: Previous 92.0131 92.014 92.015 92.016 92.0161 92.017 92.018 92.019 92.020 92.021 92.023 92.024 92.025 92.051 92.052 NextLast modified: September 28, 2016