Are utilities considered part of rent in Texas?

It depends on the lease. If the Texas lease bundles utilities into the monthly rent (one combined number, paid to the landlord), they are part of rent for purposes of the rent cap, the deposit cap, and rent increase notice. If the lease separates them (tenant pays the utility company directly, or pays a separate utility allowance to the landlord), they are usually NOT part of rent. Texas has no statewide statutory advance notice for rent increases. Lease terms govern. Default practice is 30 days written notice on a month-to-month tenancy, matching the Tex. Prop. Code 91.001 termination rule. No state rent cap, and local rent control is preempted. A landlord who shifts utilities from "included" to "tenant pays" mid-tenancy without proper notice is effectively raising rent and must comply with the rent increase notice rules. Some Texas jurisdictions also require RUBS (ratio utility billing system) or sub-metering disclosures before splitting utilities. The key question: does the change increase the tenant's net monthly out-of-pocket cost? If yes, treat it as a rent increase.

Source: Lease-based; Tex. Prop. Code 91.001 (30-day month-to-month termination default)