The Phone Call No Corpus Christi Landlord Wants to Get
A neighbor calls to say the lights are on in your vacant Southside rental, but you never signed a new lease. Until recently, clearing out strangers who moved into your own property meant months tangled up in county court, even when you could prove they had no legal right to be there. Texas Senate Bill 1333 rewrote that timeline, giving property owners a faster, law-enforcement-driven path to remove true squatters instead of waiting out a lengthy eviction lawsuit. This guide walks Corpus Christi landlords through what SB 1333 changed, who actually qualifies as an unauthorized occupant, and exactly how to file a complaint locally. Amy Willis & Associates has guided Corpus Christi property owners through the region's rental laws since 2003, and staying ahead of legislation like this is part of how we keep your investment protected.
Key Takeaways
SB 1333 took effect September 1, 2025, creating a faster removal process for genuine squatters that bypasses traditional eviction litigation.
Chapter 24B of the Texas Property Code now lets sheriffs and constables serve a notice to vacate and physically remove unauthorized occupants once ownership is verified.
Eligibility is narrow — the law applies only to people with no lease, license, or claim to title, and excludes current or former tenants and family members.
Property fraud now carries steeper criminal penalties, targeting forged deeds and fraudulent lease agreements used to fake a legal claim to a home.
Corpus Christi owners file through the Nueces County Sheriff's Office or the applicable local constable precinct, using a sworn affidavit and proof of ownership.
What Texas Senate Bill 1333 Actually Changed
Before September 2025, a landlord who discovered an unauthorized occupant had one real option: file a formal eviction suit and wait for a court date, even in cases with zero ambiguity about who belonged on the property. Texas Senate Bill 1333, effective September 1, 2025, gives property owners and their agents a shortcut for the clearest cases of squatting by allowing an immediate removal request through local law enforcement instead.
From Eviction Court to a Sworn Affidavit
Rather than filing a lawsuit, an owner submits a sworn affidavit confirming that the occupant entered unlawfully and holds no valid lease. Once law enforcement verifies ownership, they can serve the notice and carry out removal directly.
What it means: For a true squatter situation, this can shrink a process that once dragged on for weeks or months into a matter of days after the affidavit is filed and ownership is confirmed. It does not replace the formal eviction process for tenant disputes — the two paths serve very different situations, and using the wrong one can slow you down or create liability.
Real-world example: A Flour Bluff duplex sits vacant after a tenant moves out. Two weeks later, the owner learns someone changed the locks and moved in without ever contacting the property manager or signing paperwork. Because there was never a lease, license, or family relationship involved, this is precisely the scenario SB 1333 was built to address quickly.
Inside Chapter 24B: Three Provisions Every Landlord Should Know
Fast Law Enforcement Action
SB 1333 creates Chapter 24B of the Texas Property Code, authorizing county sheriffs or constables to serve a notice to vacate and physically remove confirmed squatters once they've verified the ownership paperwork submitted alongside the complaint.
Strict Eligibility Criteria
This is the detail that trips up the most landlords. The law applies exclusively to occupants with no legal lease, license, or color of title — and it explicitly excludes current or former tenants and family members. A renter who stopped paying rent, an ex-partner still living in the home, or a family member who overstayed their welcome all fall outside SB 1333's scope, no matter how frustrating the situation feels.
What it means: If there's any lease history, rental agreement, or family relationship with the occupant, you'll need to pursue the standard eviction process instead. Filing an affidavit against someone who technically qualifies as a tenant can backfire, which is exactly why thorough tenant screening up front matters — it keeps your paper trail clean and your legal options clear if a dispute ever arises.
Tougher Criminal Penalties for Property Fraud
SB 1333 also strengthens criminal charges against people who use forged deeds or fraudulent lease agreements to claim a right to occupy a home they don't own or rent. This targets the more sophisticated squatting schemes that rely on fake paperwork rather than a simple break-in.
How Corpus Christi Property Owners File a Complaint
Step 1: Gather Your Documentation
Start by pulling together proof of ownership — your deed and current property tax statements — along with a valid photo ID. Local constable offices, including some in Galveston County that publish their unauthorized occupant packet requirements online, give a useful sense of what documentation reviewers expect statewide.
Step 2: Complete the Sworn Affidavit
Next, complete the prescribed unauthorized occupant complaint form. It must specify that the individual entered the property without consent and holds no legal right to remain — no lease, no license, and no ownership claim.
Step 3: Submit to Local Authorities
Finally, file the paperwork along with any required service fees directly with the Nueces County Sheriff's Office or the applicable Corpus Christi-area constable precinct. From there, law enforcement verifies your ownership documentation before taking action.
What it means: Precision matters here. A missing document or an occupant who doesn't clearly meet the eligibility criteria can delay the process, so many owners choose to have a property management team review the situation before filing. The bill's text itself is publicly available through Texas Legislature Online if you'd like to review the exact statutory language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use SB 1333 to remove a tenant who stopped paying rent?
No. SB 1333 applies only to true squatters with no lease, license, or family connection to you. A nonpaying tenant still requires the standard eviction process through the courts.
What if I'm not sure whether someone qualifies as an unauthorized occupant?
Because the sworn affidavit carries legal weight, it's worth reviewing lease history, prior communications, and any family ties before filing. When in doubt, consult a property manager or attorney familiar with both SB 1333 and traditional eviction law.
Does SB 1333 replace the need for an eviction lawsuit entirely?
No. It creates a faster alternative specifically for clear-cut squatting cases. Any situation involving a current or former tenant, roommate, or family member still falls under Texas's traditional eviction procedures.
Protect Your Corpus Christi Rental Before a Squatting Situation Escalates
Texas Senate Bill 1333 gives Corpus Christi landlords a genuinely faster path to remove unauthorized occupants, but only when the situation meets its narrow legal criteria — everything else still runs through traditional eviction channels. Knowing which process applies, documenting ownership correctly, and filing the right paperwork with Nueces County authorities can save you weeks of uncertainty and risk. Amy Willis & Associates helps owners across Corpus Christi navigate exactly these situations every day. Call us at 361.993.7653 or schedule a property management consultation to make sure your rental is protected, or contact us with questions about your specific property.
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