Turning a home into a rental can be a smart move, but there are real details to get right first. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR and Broker at Uncommon Realty, and through Uncommon Rentals, my property management division, I’ve walked a lot of Central Texas homeowners through this. I’m not an attorney and nothing here is legal advice, but here’s what I’d want you to know going in.
TL;DR
- Confirm your lender, HOA, and insurance actually allow you to lease the property before you list it.
- Texas law sets real obligations around habitability, repairs, and security deposits — know them or work with someone who does.
- Set rent using real comps, and keep 3-6 months of reserves for vacancy and repairs.
- Screen every applicant consistently under fair housing law.
- Uncommon Rentals can manage the whole process if you’d rather not do it yourself.
Check These Before You List
Some mortgages carry occupancy clauses that affect your ability to rent the home out — check with your lender first. If the property’s in an HOA, many require advance approval or set a minimum lease term, so confirm that too. And your standard homeowner’s policy almost certainly doesn’t cover rental activity; you’ll need a landlord policy that covers tenant damage, liability, and loss of rent.
Know the Legal Basics
Texas is generally landlord-friendly, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to know. The Texas Property Code sets out real obligations — landlords have to maintain safe, habitable housing and respond to repair requests, and there are specific rules around how security deposits are handled and returned. Your lease needs to comply with all of it. This is one of the areas where a property manager earns their fee: keeping your lease, notices, and deposit handling aligned with current Texas law.
Get the Financial Side Right
Set rent based on actual comparable listings in your area, not a number that just covers your mortgage — overpricing sits vacant, underpricing leaves money on the table. Keep a reserve of three to six months’ expenses on hand; even a well-managed rental has occasional vacancies and repairs. Rental income is taxable, but expenses like repairs, management fees, and mortgage interest are generally deductible — loop in your accountant before your first tenant moves in, not after.
Get the Property Ready
Handle deferred maintenance before listing — a working HVAC system, no leaky faucets, clean paint and flooring. You don’t need a remodel, but a tenant expects a place that’s clean and fully functional, and it supports a stronger rent price.
Screen Every Applicant the Same Way
Verify income, employment, and rental history, and run credit and background checks — the same way, every time, for every applicant. Applying your criteria inconsistently between applicants is one of the more common ways landlords run into a fair housing complaint, even without meaning to.
Interested in Property Management?
What Uncommon Rentals Handles
If you’d rather hand this off, my team manages the full process — marketing, tenant screening, lease compliance, rent collection, maintenance coordination, and inspections — for properties across Austin, Leander, Cedar Park, and the surrounding Hill Country. You get a secure owner portal for financial reporting rather than fielding maintenance calls yourself.
If you’re weighing whether to rent your home out, I’m glad to walk through what it would actually look like for your specific property.
