By Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 2186 77R6767 AJA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to charges assessed by a landlord at the end of a lease 1-3 term. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 92.015 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 92.015. ASSESSMENT OF CHARGES AT END OF LEASE TERM. (a) 1-8 A landlord may not assess a charge at the end of a lease term or 1-9 after a tenant surrenders the premises unless: 1-10 (1) the lease specifies: 1-11 (A) that the charge may be assessed at the end 1-12 of the lease term or after the tenant surrenders the premises; 1-13 (B) the conditions under which the charge may be 1-14 assessed; and 1-15 (C) the method by which the charge is to be 1-16 computed; and 1-17 (2) before the lease is entered into, the landlord 1-18 informs the tenant orally or in a writing provided to the tenant 1-19 separately from the lease that the charge may be assessed at the 1-20 end of the lease term or when the tenant surrenders the premises. 1-21 (b) This section does not affect a landlord's right to 1-22 recover the cost of repairing damage to property covered by a 1-23 lease. 1-24 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and 2-1 applies only to a residential lease entered into or renewed or 2-2 extended on or after that date.