What Can I Do About a Texas Landlord Taking Private Photos Inside My Home?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
Landlord harassment, and taking pictures of my private area inside the house when she stated she was going to take pictures for insurance purposes.
Attorney Answer
Even when a landlord has a legitimate reason to be in your home, such as documenting damage for insurance, that does not give them free rein to photograph you or private areas of your body, and Texas law gives you more than one way to push back.
Texas does not have one single statute spelling out exactly how much notice a landlord must give before entering a rental home, so your specific rights around entry often depend on what your lease says. That said, Texas law does recognize a civil claim called invasion of privacy, sometimes described as intrusion on seclusion, when someone intentionally intrudes on your private affairs or space in a way a reasonable person would find highly offensive.
If what was photographed was actually your body or an intimate area rather than just a room, this can also raise Texas criminal law concerns. Texas Penal Code Section 21.15 makes it a crime to photograph or record another person's intimate areas without consent, when that person reasonably expects those areas are not open to public view. If that is what happened here, this is worth reporting to local police, not just handling as a landlord dispute.
Steps you can take:
1. Write down exactly what was photographed, when, and what the landlord said about the reason. 2. Put your objection in writing to the landlord, stating you do not consent to photographs of yourself or private areas of your body, and ask that any such images be deleted. 3. If you believe intimate images were taken, consider filing a police report, since this preserves your options and creates an official record. 4. Review your lease for any entry or notice provisions the landlord may have violated. 5. Keep a written log of any further contact or entries.
Depending on exactly what was photographed and how, you may have both a potential civil claim and, in some circumstances, a matter for law enforcement. Texas generally gives you two years under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 to bring most personal injury and privacy-related civil claims, so do not wait too long. This is general legal information, not legal advice. A local Texas attorney can review the specifics and tell you the strongest path forward.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does my landlord have to give me notice before entering my home in Texas?
Texas does not have one statewide law setting a specific notice period for routine landlord entry, so this usually comes down to what your lease agreement says. Many leases include their own notice requirements, so review yours closely.
What is intrusion on seclusion and how is it different from a lease violation?
It's a civil claim for when someone intentionally intrudes on your private space or affairs in a way a reasonable person would find highly offensive, separate from whatever your lease says about entry. It can apply even if the entry itself was technically allowed, if what happened during that entry crossed the line.
Should I call the police or just deal with this as a landlord issue?
If the photos involved your body or an intimate area rather than just the room, consider filing a police report, since Texas Penal Code Section 21.15 addresses non-consensual intimate photography. If it was about the space itself, a written complaint and possibly a civil claim may be the better starting point.
