In Texas, a landlord can charge a late fee if:

A landlord cannot charge a late fee 'always, regardless of lease terms' because Texas Property Code Section 92.019 explicitly requires the fee to be authorized in the written lease agreement; imposing a fee without contractual authority would constitute an improper charge that the tenant could legally refuse to pay and that could expose the landlord to liability for wrongful collection.

Texas Property Code Section 92.019 applies specifically to residential properties and does not restrict late fee authority to commercial properties; in fact, residential tenants have more statutory protections regarding late fees than commercial tenants, making this answer the opposite of the legal reality.

Late fees are absolutely permitted in Texas when properly authorized by the lease agreement; the Texas Property Code Section 92.019 explicitly contemplates and regulates late fees, confirming their legality while setting parameters for their reasonableness and enforceability.