A. Texas law does not set a limit on the amount a landlord can charge as a security deposit for a residential rental unit, but it should be within reason. A good guideline is to make your security deposit equal to 1 or 1 1/2 month's rent. You can also charge a pet deposit if the tenant has a pet, which would be used to pay for any damages caused by the pet.
A. You can charge a late fee if the amount of the fee is stated in a written lease agreement. Late fees are not payable until the 1-day grace period for late rent has expired.
A. Provided that the tenant has given you a forwarding address, you must return the deposit within 30 days after he or she moves out. You must also provide an itemized statement of any deductions that you make from the security deposit. If you fail to do so, the tenant may have the right to sue you for three times the amount of the deposit.