What should you do if your tenant stops paying rent?

The simple answer is, start the eviction process. Many landlords wait for far too long for a tenant to pay rent. Although giving your tenant time to get their finances together is understandable, waiting can also drastically increase the amount owed. 

If your tenant is behind on rent, you should act immediately to protect your interests. In Texas, the first action you should take is to send the tenant an eviction notice. This will clearly define the situation and what is required of the tenant. Assuming that rent is paid, the landlord can simply forgo the rest of the eviction process. In the event the tenant does not become current in their rent payments, the landlord should proceed with the eviction by filing the eviction suit with the court.