Sec. 93.007.  CESSATION OF OWNER'S INTEREST.  (a)  If the owner's interest in the premises is terminated by sale, assignment, death, appointment of a receiver, bankruptcy, or otherwise, the new owner is liable for the return of the security deposit according to this chapter from the date title to the premises is acquired, regardless of whether an acknowledgement is given to the tenant under Subsection (b).
(b)  The person who no longer owns an interest in the rental premises remains liable for a security deposit received while the person was the owner until the new owner delivers to the tenant a signed statement acknowledging that the new owner has received and is responsible for the tenant's security deposit and specifying the exact dollar amount of the deposit.  The amount of the security deposit is the greater of:
(1)  the amount provided in the tenant's lease;  or
(2)  the amount provided in an estoppel certificate prepared by the owner at the time the lease was executed or prepared by the new owner at the time the commercial property is transferred.
(c)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a real estate mortgage lienholder who acquires title by foreclosure.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1460, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.