{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-property-code-92.334","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Property Code § 92.334","heading":"INVALID COMPLAINTS.","body":"(a) If a tenant files or prosecutes a suit for retaliatory action based on a complaint asserted under Section 92.331(a)(3), and the government building or housing inspector or utility company representative visits the premises and determines in writing that a violation of a building or housing code does not exist or that a utility problem does not exist, there is a rebuttable presumption that the tenant acted in bad faith.\n(b) If a tenant files or prosecutes a suit under this subchapter in bad faith, the landlord may recover possession of the dwelling unit and may recover from the tenant a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. If the tenant's rent payment to the landlord is subsidized in whole or in part by a governmental entity, the civil penalty granted under this section shall reflect the fair market rent of the dwelling plus $500.\nAdded by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 869, Sec. 5, eff. Jan. 1, 1996.","path":["PROPERTY CODE","TITLE 8. LANDLORD AND TENANT","CHAPTER 92. RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES","SUBCHAPTER H. RETALIATION"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.92.htm#92.334","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:37Z","sha256":"50ecac3cfecde92a2573e9a8c630b138bd91a08a4ae61e8f87e01cd89625a741","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-property-code-92.333","next":"us-tx/tex.-property-code-92.335"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}