Sec. 94.160.  LANDLORD REMEDY FOR TENANT VIOLATION.  (a)  If a tenant withholds rent, causes repairs to be performed, or makes rent deductions for repairs in violation of this subchapter, the landlord may recover actual damages from the tenant.  If, after a landlord has notified a tenant in writing of the illegality of the tenant's rent withholding or the tenant's proposed repair and the penalties of this subchapter, the tenant withholds rent, causes repairs to be performed, or makes rent deductions for repairs in bad faith violation of this subchapter, the landlord may recover from the tenant a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500.
(b)  Notice under this section must be in writing and may be given in person, by mail, or by delivery to the premises.
(c)  The landlord has the burden of pleading and proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the landlord gave the tenant the required notice of the illegality and the penalties and that the tenant's violation was done in bad faith.  In any litigation under this subsection, the prevailing party shall recover reasonable attorney's fees from the nonprevailing party.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 801, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2002.