Texas Commercial Lease Agreement Template

Texas rules built into this template

• Texas law: The landlord will refund the security deposit, less lawful deductions, within 60 days after the tenant surrenders the premises and gives the landlord a written forwarding address (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 93.005, 93.009). The landlord may change the locks of a delinquent commercial tenant only as permitted by Tex. Prop. Code § 93.002, and a tenant locked out in violation of that section may seek a writ of reentry (Tex. Prop. Code § 93.003). The landlord must use reasonable efforts to mitigate damages if the tenant abandons the premises (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.006).
• Residential rules: most residential landlord-tenant protections, such as residential deposit caps and return deadlines, do not apply to a commercial lease, so the lease terms matter more.

What the Commercial Lease Agreement includes

1. Premises
2. Term
3. Rent
4. Late Payment
5. Security Deposit
6. Permitted Use and Compliance
7. Utilities and Operating Expenses
8. Maintenance and Repairs
9. Alterations and Signs
10. Insurance
11. Indemnification
12. Assignment and Subletting
13. Entry by Landlord
14. Default and Remedies
15. Early Termination
16. Surrender and Holdover
17. Notices
18. State Law
19. General Provisions
20. Governing Law

Frequently asked questions

What laws apply to a commercial lease in Texas?

The landlord will refund the security deposit, less lawful deductions, within 60 days after the tenant surrenders the premises and gives the landlord a written forwarding address (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 93.005, 93.009). The landlord may change the locks of a delinquent commercial tenant only as permitted by Tex. Prop. Code § 93.002, and a tenant locked out in violation of that section may seek a writ of reentry (Tex. Prop. Code § 93.003). The landlord must use reasonable efforts to mitigate damages if the tenant abandons the premises (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.006).

Can a commercial landlord lock out a tenant?

Generally a landlord must recover possession through the court process, and some states, such as Texas, regulate when a commercial landlord may change the locks. The Standard lease says the landlord will not use self-help except as the law expressly permits.

What is the difference between the Standard and Professional Commercial Lease Agreement?

The Standard edition is a complete, state-aware Commercial Lease Agreement for common situations. The Professional edition adds longer clause coverage, schedules, and optional modules for more complex matters. You can preview either edition free before you pay.

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