A proposed Houston ordinance to increase inspections and fines for problematic apartment complexes has been delayed, city council member Letitia Plummer announced Wednesday. The delay comes amid pushback from the Houston Apartment Association.
Ordinance Aims to Protect Residents
The measure is designed to protect tenants from unsafe and substandard housing. It would create a registry of “High Risk Rental Buildings” based on 311 complaints and verified habitability citations. Buildings on the list would face additional inspections and potential daily fines for ongoing violations.
Industry Pushback
The HAA argued the ordinance is “flawed,” citing issues such as duplicative registration, reliance on potentially unverified complaints, and failure to consider property size. Vice President Ben McPhaul raised these concerns during the city council’s public comment session.
“We are reacting to the new language,” speaker Salena Braye-Bulls said on behalf of the Houston Apartment Association, raising concerns on the new language in the proposed ordinance during the evening public session ahead of the council vote.
“The new language…only really thinks about five properties; what about the rest of the properties?”
“I support it, but I don’t think that we should only be thinking about the landlords that have the most calls and 10 citations.”
Council Member Responds
Plummer delayed the ordinance by one week, acknowledging pressure from the apartment association while emphasizing her support for stronger tenant protections.
“We’ve really worked hard to work with all stakeholders…I think our job as government officials is to find that balance,” Plummer said.
Community Reaction
Several community members praised Plummer’s effort but said the ordinance doesn’t go far enough. Under the current proposal, only five apartment complexes would be included, which tenant advocates argue is insufficient to address citywide housing issues.
So What’s Next?
The ordinance is scheduled for further discussion and a vote next week. Plummer intends to continue advocating for the measure and engaging with stakeholders to address concerns on both sides.
For more on Houston City Council, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.