Sources and coverage

The California Courts Self-Help Guide states that after a tenant moves out, a landlord has 21 days to either return the full deposit or return the deposit minus deductions together with an itemized statement listing what was deducted and why. The guide refers readers to California Civil Code section 1950.5. The guide does not mention a forwarding address.

The Texas State Law Library guide quotes Texas Property Code section 92.103: the landlord must refund the security deposit on or before the 30th day after the date the tenant surrenders the premises. Section 92.104 requires an itemized list of deductions when part of the deposit is kept and bars deductions for normal wear and tear. Section 92.107 provides that the landlord is not obligated to return the deposit or give a written description of damages until the tenant gives a written statement of a forwarding address; a tenant who has not given one still keeps the right to a refund.

California month-to-month tenancy: either party may end the tenancy by giving at least 30 days written notice (Civil Code 1946). A tenant giving notice under Civil Code 1946.1 gives notice for a period at least as long as the term of the periodic tenancy (for example, one week for a week-to-week tenancy), and a court self-help document states that a tenant is never required to give more than 30 days notice. The parties may agree, when the tenancy is created, to a shorter notice period of not less than seven days. Notice is given in the manner prescribed by Code of Civil Procedure 1162 or by certified or registered mail.

Texas month-to-month tenancy: under Property Code 91.001, as summarized by the Texas State Law Library, either the tenant or the landlord may end the tenancy by giving notice. The tenancy ends on the later of the day stated in the notice or, for rental periods of at least one month, one month after the day notice is given. For shorter rental periods, the notice runs for a number of days equal to the rent-paying period. A different notice length applies if landlord and tenant have signed a statement agreeing to different terms, which could include no notice at all. Texas law does not set a notice period for leases that are not month-to-month; the lease terms control.

California court self-help guidance states that a month-to-month tenancy is ended with a 30-day notice if the tenant has lived in the unit less than one year, or a 60-day notice if one year or more. Under the Tenant Protection Act (Civil Code section 1946.2), most tenancies require a stated just cause once the tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months, and a no-fault termination requires relocation assistance of one month of rent or a waiver of the last month, stated in the notice. Section 8 housing and CARES Act covered properties follow different notice rules. Cities and counties may add requirements.

The Texas State Law Library guide states that Texas law does not specify how much notice is required when the lease is not month-to-month; the terms of the written lease control what notice, if any, either party must give before a fixed term ends.

The Texas State Law Library guide on Property Code section 91.001 states that either the landlord or the tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy by notifying the other. For rental periods of at least one month, the tenancy ends on the later of the day stated in the notice or one month after the day notice is given, unless both parties signed a written agreement setting a different notice period. This is a notice that the tenancy is ending; the separate pre-eviction notice to vacate under Property Code section 24.005 applies only if the tenant stays past the end date.

California Tenant Protection Act (as summarized by the state Department of Real Estate 2026 tenant guide, citing Civil Code 1947.12): for covered properties, gross rent increases within a 12-month period are capped at 5 percent plus the change in the cost of living (CPI) or 10 percent, whichever is lower, with no more than two increases in a 12-month period. The cap does not apply to several property types, including housing less than 15 years old, certain owner-occupied duplexes, some subsidized or deed-restricted affordable housing, dormitories, housing under a stricter local ordinance, and single-family homes or condominiums not owned by a REIT, corporation or LLC with a corporate member where the required written exemption notice was given. Local ordinances enacted before September 1, 2019 take precedence; later local ordinances take precedence only if stronger. The law expires on January 1, 2030 unless extended.

Texas (as summarized by the Texas State Law Library): there is no statewide law limiting how much a landlord can increase the rent when a lease is renewed. Cities may adopt local rent control only in limited circumstances (a declared state of disaster, a finding of a housing emergency, and approval by the governor, under Local Government Code 214.902). Changes to a lease happen only at the beginning of a new lease period or with the agreement of all parties, and rent cannot be raised to retaliate against a tenant for exercising a legal right (Property Code chapter 92, subchapter H).

California (as summarized by the state Department of Real Estate 2026 tenant guide, citing Civil Code 827(b)): a rent increase in a periodic tenancy requires advance written notice. If the increase, combined with all other increases in the preceding 12 months, is 10 percent or less of the lowest rent charged in that period, at least 30 days notice; if more than 10 percent, at least 90 days. When the notice is mailed from within California, add 5 days (10 days from outside California, 20 days from outside the United States). Longer periods can apply by statute, regulation, local ordinance or contract. During a fixed term, rent cannot be raised unless the agreement permits it.

Texas: the verified source (Texas State Law Library "Rent" page) states that lease changes happen only at the beginning of a new lease period or by agreement of all parties, and does not state a specific notice period for a rent increase in a month-to-month tenancy. Whether Property Code 91.001 (notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy) or the lease governs the timing has not been confirmed from an official source. Draft only.

California court self-help guidance states that a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit is used when the tenant is behind on rent and tells them they have 3 days to pay the rent or move out. The 3 days do not include Saturdays, Sundays and court holidays. The notice must state the tenant's full name(s), the rental home address, the exact amount of rent owed, that rent must be paid within 3 days or the tenant must move out, and how and where to pay (in person or by mail, with address, days and hours). The guide says the notice cannot ask for other money such as late fees, utilities or damages. The separate delivery page says the person delivering must be 18 or older, lists hand delivery, leaving a copy with another adult at home or work and then mailing, or posting on the home and then mailing, and says not to count the day the notice was delivered or mailed.

The Texas State Law Library guide on Property Code section 24.005 states that before filing an eviction suit the landlord must give the tenant at least 3 days' notice to vacate unless the lease says otherwise; the lease may set a longer or shorter period. The notice must be in writing unless a written lease says it can be delivered electronically. Delivery methods listed are in person to the tenant or someone in the household who is 16 or older, in person to the inside of the premises in an obvious place, by mail (first class, registered, certified or a delivery service), or by e-mail or other electronic means if the written lease allows it. For nonpayment, the guide says that if the tenant paid rent on time the month before the notice, the landlord must give a notice to pay rent or vacate; if the tenant was late or did not pay the month before, the landlord may give either a notice to pay rent or vacate or a notice to vacate. The guide says the suit is filed in the justice court where the property is located after the notice period passes.

Draft entry, not relied upon. 42 U.S.C. 3604(f)(3)(B) provides that, for purposes of subsection (f), discrimination includes "a refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling". How this provision applies to assistance animals, what a housing provider may ask for, exemptions, and any state or local rules have not been researched or reviewed for this site.

HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity withdrew "FHEO Notice 2013-01: Service Animals and Assistance Animals for People with Disabilities in Housing and HUD-funded Programs" (issued April 25, 2013) and "FHEO 2020-01: Assessing a Person's Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act" (issued January 28, 2020), effective September 17, 2025. The Federal Register notice (91 FR 17291, April 6, 2026) states the documents "have been removed from active use and should not be relied upon as authoritative" and that guidance determined to be necessary "will be reissued". No replacement assistance-animal guidance had been identified by LetterForgeUSA as of October 16, 2026.

The California Department of Real Estate tenant guide (2026 edition) says that a payment called a pet deposit is treated as part of the security deposit whatever it is called, that as of July 1, 2024 the total security deposit a landlord may require is limited to one month of rent for furnished and unfurnished units with no separate allowance for pet deposits, key fees or cleaning fees, and that only small landlords as defined in the guide (individuals or LLCs owned by individuals renting one or two properties with no more than four units in total) may charge up to two months of rent. The guide does not discuss monthly pet rent.