Midtown: South of downtown, well-connected, popular with young renters, bus access to Rice and UH.
Montrose: Artsy community near Rice University, walkable and bike-friendly.
Medical Center: Adjacent to UTHealth and Baylor College of Medicine — popular with med students.
Greenway Plaza: Near the business district, newer buildings, easy commute.
Per person shared bedroom:
Midtown: $600–$900 · Montrose: $650–$950
Medical Center: $700–$1,000 · Greenway Plaza: $750–$1,100
Whole unit benchmark: Studio $1,200–$1,600 · 1BR $1,400–$1,900
Texas law sets no statutory cap on deposit amounts — landlords set their own amount (typically 1 month's rent, sometimes more depending on credit).
Landlords must refund the deposit within 30 days of move-out; any deductions require a written itemized list, or the withholding is presumed to be in bad faith.
Bad-faith withholding makes the landlord liable for a $100 statutory penalty, 3× the wrongfully withheld amount, and the tenant's attorney fees.
Texas state law bans cities and counties from enacting rent control (except during a governor-declared disaster emergency), so Houston has no cap on rent increases — landlords set market rates freely.
Month-to-month leases require at least 30 days' written notice before a rent change; fixed-term leases cannot be raised before expiration.
Texas law distinguishes "application fee" (non-refundable, covers screening cost) from "application deposit" (refundable in full if the applicant is rejected).
If the landlord fails to disclose tenant selection criteria in writing beforehand, both the application fee and deposit must be refunded in full upon rejection.
1. Institutional guarantor (Insurent / TheGuarantors / Leap): one-time fee ~65%–100% of monthly rent, accepted by most large Texas apartment communities.
2. US co-signer: annual income 3–4× monthly rent, credit 650+.
3. Submit I-20 + bank statements + scholarship letter — works with small/mid-size private landlords.
4. Prepay 3–6 months' rent as supplementary proof.
Texas Property Code §92.056 sets a rebuttable presumption that 7 days is a "reasonable time" to repair after written notice (adjustable based on severity — no water/power emergencies typically require a faster response).
If the landlord fails to repair within a reasonable time, tenants may use §92.0561 to arrange repairs themselves and deduct the cost from rent.
Generally allowed unless the lease prohibits it, but requires prior written landlord consent; unauthorized subletting can lead to lease termination.
12-month academic leases are most common; Texas apartment communities also offer relatively abundant month-to-month options, giving more flexibility. Summer sublets carry a 10%–20% premium.
Master bedrooms with a private bathroom cost 15%–25% more; utilities, parking, and management fees split equally absent a specific agreement; put terms in a signed roommate agreement.
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