Can My Texas RV Park Landlord Skip Eviction and Keep My Deposit?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I was at an RV park and had been there for almost a year. They knew about my background and decided not to renew my lease, which was set to end in May 2026. I received notice of that on April 22, 2026. They kept my $200 deposit and are now trying to make me pay the electric bill. Can they do that when there wasn't a proper eviction? They didn't give me written notice or serve me. They just told me to leave within the week.
Attorney Answer
A landlord in Texas, including one who rents RV pad space, generally cannot force you out without going through the court eviction process, and simply telling you to leave within a week is not enough on its own.
Regardless of what type of tenancy this is, Texas law requires a landlord to file a formal eviction lawsuit, called a forcible detainer suit, in the local Justice of the Peace Court before removing a tenant who has not left voluntarily. This is set out in Chapter 24 of the Texas Property Code. A landlord who changes locks, shuts off utilities, or otherwise pressures a tenant to leave without going through that process may be acting unlawfully, and courts take self-help evictions seriously.
Whether the specific security deposit rules in Chapter 92 of the Property Code apply to your situation can depend on how your RV space rental was set up, since that chapter is written around rented dwellings rather than a lot for a tenant-owned RV. Many of the general principles still tend to matter in practice: landlords are generally expected to return deposits or provide a written, itemized explanation for withholding any part of one, and charges after you leave usually need some basis in your written agreement, not just a unilateral decision by the landlord.
Since you say you never received written notice and were only told verbally to leave, and you were not served with any eviction paperwork, that matters. If the landlord tries to physically remove you or your property without a court order, do not resist, but document everything and contact the police non-emergency line to report it.
What to do next:
1. Save any texts, emails, or notes about the April notice and the electric bill demand. 2. Take photos of the space and anything left behind. 3. Do not pay the electric bill demand until you understand its legal basis. Ask for a written, itemized explanation. 4. If you are served with eviction papers, note the court date immediately, since you will have a short window to respond. 5. Contact a Texas landlord-tenant attorney or a local legal aid office, since RV park tenancies can fall into a gray area that benefits from individual review.
This is general legal information, not legal advice. A Texas attorney familiar with landlord-tenant and RV park issues can review your written agreement and tell you exactly what applies to your situation.
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Courts & Legal Aid in Texas
- File or look up a case through the Texas Judicial Branch, which serves the state.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a landlord legally lock me out or shut off power without going to court in Texas?
No. Except in narrow, specific circumstances, Texas landlords must get a court order through the eviction process before removing a tenant or cutting off utilities to force someone out. Doing it without a court order can expose the landlord to legal liability.
Do I have to pay the electric bill my former landlord is demanding?
Not automatically. The landlord needs some basis in your written agreement or the account itself for charging you after you moved out. Ask for a written, itemized explanation before paying anything, and keep a copy of whatever agreement you signed.
What should I do if I get served with eviction papers now?
Note the court date right away and show up. Eviction cases in Justice Court move quickly, and missing your court date can result in a default judgment against you even if you have a good defense.
