Landlord issue documentation letter (Dallas-Fort Worth renter)
Legal advice recommended before use.
Texas Property Code §92.331 bans a landlord from retaliating against you for exercising a legal right — requesting repairs, filing a code complaint, or organizing with other tenants — and it gives you a real advantage: if the landlord's adverse action (eviction, service cutoff, rent hike, lease non-renewal) comes within six months of your protected action, the law presumes it was retaliatory. That presumption only helps you if you have a clear, dated record. Use this letter to formally document a pattern of conduct and put your landlord on written notice — before things escalate to court.
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Send by a method you can prove (certified mail or email with delivery confirmation) and keep your dated log, photos, and any related correspondence — that record is what makes the six-month presumption under § 92.331 work in your favor. This is a template, not legal advice; consider a tenant rights organization or attorney if the conduct continues.
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Frequently asked questions
What counts as retaliation I can document with this letter?
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331, it's a landlord filing eviction (without legitimate grounds), cutting off your use of the unit, decreasing services, raising your rent, ending your lease, or bad-faith interference with your rights, when it happens within six months of you exercising a protected right like a repair request or a code complaint.
Why does the six-month window matter?
It shifts the burden to your landlord. If the adverse action happens within six months of your protected action, § 92.331 presumes it was retaliatory, and your landlord has to show a legitimate, independent reason under § 92.332 to rebut that presumption.
What can I recover if I prove retaliation?
Under § 92.333: a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500, your actual damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees, minus any rent you genuinely still owe.
Is this the same as a repair request?
No — this letter documents a broader pattern and connects it to a specific adverse action for a retaliation claim. If you just need to request a repair, use our repair request letter or repair escalation letter templates instead.
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