What Door Locks, Window Latches & Peepholes Must Every Texas Landlord Provide by Law? (Prop. Code § 92.153)
Direct Answer Under Texas Law
Texas Property Code § 92.153 mandates that EVERY rental dwelling in Texas must be equipped at the landlord's expense with: (1) a window latch on each exterior window; (2) a doorknob lock or keyed deadbolt on each exterior door; (3) a KEYLESS BOLTING DEVICE (a deadbolt operable only from inside the unit that cannot be unlocked from outside with a key!) AND a door viewer (peephole) on each exterior door; and (4) a pin lock AND a security bar or handle latch on each sliding glass patio door! Furthermore, under § 92.156, the landlord MUST rekey all exterior locks within 7 days after each tenant turnover!
Critical Texas Procedural Trap to Watch Out For
Think about how many apartment intruders enter using a master key, a former tenant's un-rekeyed key, or a broken sliding-patio-door latch where the unit lacked the mandatory keyless interior deadbolt (§ 92.153(a)(5))! Violation of Subchapter D provides a statutory anchor for apartment assault and intrusion claims.
Recommended Action Plan for Texas Claimants
Immediately photograph the interior of every apartment entry door and sliding glass door after a break-in to document missing keyless deadbolts, broken patio pin locks, or failure to rekey between tenants (§ 92.156).
Detailed Texas Statutory & Case Law Breakdown
Under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.151–92.170 (Subchapter D — Security Devices) and controlling Texas appellate precedent in Timberwalk Apartments, Partners, Inc. v. Cain, 972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998), Texas trial and appellate courts apply strict statutory rules to this exact issue. Unlike generic multi-state legal summaries, Texas tort procedure under the Civil Practice and Remedies Code (CPRC), Insurance Code, Transportation Code, and Labor Code enforces specific statutory formulas—including the 51% proportionate responsibility bar (CPRC § 33.001), paid-or-incurred medical expense admissibility (CPRC § 41.0105 / Haygood), and mandatory statutory lien caps (Prop. Code Ch. 55 & Ins. Code Ch. 140).
Step-by-Step Texas Procedural Checklist
- Verify the exact statutory text of Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.151–92.170 (Subchapter D — Security Devices) and how Texas courts apply Timberwalk Apartments, Partners, Inc. v. Cain, 972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998) in your county's appellate district.
- Beware of the Texas Procedural Trap: Think about how many apartment intruders enter using a master key, a former tenant's un-rekeyed key, or a broken sliding-patio-door latch where the unit lacked the mandatory keyless interior deadbolt (§ 92.153(a)(5))! Violation of Subchapter D provides a statutory anchor for apartment assault and intrusion claims.
- Execute the Texas Action Plan: Immediately photograph the interior of every apartment entry door and sliding glass door after a break-in to document missing keyless deadbolts, broken patio pin locks, or failure to rekey between tenants (§ 92.156).
- Preserve all physical, electronic, and medical billing records early so your CPRC § 18.001 affidavits and TRCP 194.2 Initial Disclosures are complete.
Frequently Asked Questions Under Texas Law
What Door Locks, Window Latches & Peepholes Must Every Texas Landlord Provide by Law? (Prop. Code § 92.153)
Texas Property Code § 92.153 mandates that EVERY rental dwelling in Texas must be equipped at the landlord's expense with: (1) a window latch on each exterior window; (2) a doorknob lock or keyed deadbolt on each exterior door; (3) a KEYLESS BOLTING DEVICE (a deadbolt operable only from inside the unit that cannot be unlocked from outside with a key!) AND a door viewer (peephole) on each exterior door; and (4) a pin lock AND a security bar or handle latch on each sliding glass patio door! Furthermore, under § 92.156, the landlord MUST rekey all exterior locks within 7 days after each tenant turnover! Key Texas Trap to Avoid: Think about how many apartment intruders enter using a master key, a former tenant's un-rekeyed key, or a broken sliding-patio-door latch where the unit lacked the mandatory keyless interior deadbolt (§ 92.153(a)(5))! Violation of Subchapter D provides a statutory anchor for apartment assault and intrusion claims.
What Texas statute and Supreme Court / appellate precedent control mandatory texas apartment locks (prop. code § 92.153)?
This question is governed in Texas by Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.151–92.170 (Subchapter D — Security Devices) and the legal standards articulated in Timberwalk Apartments, Partners, Inc. v. Cain, 972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998). Recommended step: Immediately photograph the interior of every apartment entry door and sliding glass door after a break-in to document missing keyless deadbolts, broken patio pin locks, or failure to rekey between tenants (§ 92.156).
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