| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the interruption of utility service by a residential |
|
|
landlord. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 92.008, Property Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (f-1) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(f) If a landlord or a landlord's agent violates this |
|
|
section, the tenant may: |
|
|
(1) either recover possession of the premises or |
|
|
terminate the lease; and |
|
|
(2) in addition to other remedies available under law, |
|
|
recover from the landlord an amount equal to the sum of the tenant's |
|
|
actual damages, the tenant's security deposit, one month's rent |
|
|
plus $1,000, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs[, less any |
|
|
delinquent rents or other sums for which the tenant is liable to the |
|
|
landlord]. |
|
|
(f-1) A landlord who violates this section may not collect |
|
|
delinquent rent from a tenant. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
|
to violation that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
|
A violation that occurs before the effective date of this Act is |
|
|
governed by the law in effect on the date the violation occurred, |
|
|
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |