Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 92.001–92.355 § 92.159
WHEN TENANT'S REQUEST OR NOTICE MUST BE IN WRITING.
Operative Text
Sec. 92.159. WHEN TENANT'S REQUEST OR NOTICE MUST BE IN WRITING. A tenant's request or notice under this subchapter may be given orally unless the tenant has a written lease that requires the request or notice to be in writing and that requirement is underlined or in boldfaced print in the lease. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 357, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Under Texas Property Code § 92.159, a tenant's request or notice related to security devices and related matters in this subchapter can generally be made verbally. However, if the tenant has a written lease that specifically requires such communications to be in writing, and that requirement is visually emphasized in the lease through underlining or bold print, then the written form becomes mandatory. The rule essentially ties the communication format requirement to how clearly it is disclosed in the lease itself.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 92.159, property owners and managers who want to require written requests or notices from tenants must ensure that this requirement is not only included in the written lease but is also underlined or printed in bold. A lease clause buried in standard-weight text alongside other provisions would not meet the standard set by this section. Compliant operators typically review their lease templates to confirm that any such formatting requirements are visually distinct and clearly highlighted.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 92.159 of the Texas Property Code means that, as a general rule, tenants may communicate requests or notices to their landlord verbally rather than in writing. The exception applies only when a tenant's written lease explicitly requires written communication and that requirement is underlined or boldfaced in the document. Tenants who want to understand whether their lease meets this standard may benefit from reviewing their lease carefully or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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