Texas Death of a tenant

What happens to the lease when a tenant dies in Texas?

A landlord may ask the tenant to name an emergency contact and authorize release of property and the deposit. When a sole occupant dies, the landlord may store the property, must release it (and refund the deposit, less lawful deductions) to the named person or another lawful claimant, and may discard it only after the certified-mail steps.

Verified Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.014 · last checked 2026-10-23