Houston Tenant Protection Ordinance

Starting June 1, 2026, renters in Houston will have stronger protections against sudden rent increases and quick evictions. The Houston Tenant Protection Ordinance gives people more time to respond when landlords want to raise rent significantly or when lease problems come up. The new law requires landlords to give 60 days written notice before raising rent more than 10%. This means if someone pays $1,200 a month, their landlord must give two months warning before increasing rent to $1,320 or higher. The extra time helps families plan their budgets or look for new housing if needed. The ordinance also gives tenants a chance to fix lease violations before facing eviction. If a landlord claims someone broke their lease, that person gets an opportunity to correct the problem first. This "right to cure" can prevent families from losing their homes over issues they can resolve. Neighborhood groups like Lone Star Legal Aid and Texas Housers spent two years documenting housing displacement across our city. They worked with dozens of community organizations to build support for these changes. Houston City Council passed the ordinance with a 12-5 vote on March 15, 2026. Renters who face rent increases over 10% without proper notice or eviction attempts without a chance to cure violations can contact Lone Star Legal Aid for help understanding their rights under the new law.