Government
Enforceability concerns rise over new apartment inspection program
High-risk rental property inspection program
Council member Letitia Plummer originally proposed the ordinance in May to help protect residents from substandard and dangerous housing conditions.
What the ordinance includes:
Multifamily rental properties that receive too many certified habitability citations within six months would have to register as a “high-risk” building. Creates an Apartment Standards Enforcement Committee responsible for inspecting properties and administering fines for violations. Building owners who fail inspections as part of the proposed program could face a $250-$2,000 misdemeanor fine per day per violation. Owners of high-risk rental buildings would be required to attend an Apartment Landlord Training Program focused on city codes and identifying unsafe conditions. A property’s high-risk registration may be terminated if all pending violations are resolved within six months or the building no longer houses residents, per the policy.
Houston City Council on Nov. 5 tabled its decision to create a new “high-risk” rental property inspec- tion program after several council members said the proposal lacks proper enforcement measures. What happened Seven council members, including Letitia Plummer, who proposed the program back in May, wanted to hold a vote during the meeting, saying the council should pass the ordinance so the pro- gram can be implemented and properly evaluated. However, eight council members and Mayor John Whitmire disagreed and voted to push the decision back to Dec. 10 so the policy can be revised to include clearer enforcement protocols. What they’re saying Several council members said the proposal has
merit but isn’t quite ready for an official vote, citing concerns with enforcement logistics and a lack of an appeal process for property owners. Casey Morgan, CEO of the Houston Apartment Association, said during public comment that there should be a mechanism for identifying “bad actors” among property owners, but the proposal in its current form would not yield the intended results without a stronger enforceability component. On the other hand, council members Edward Pollard and Sallie Alcorn supported Plummer’s push to vote on the program, saying the city needs to move forward with establishing protections before all the details can be fine-tuned. Stay tuned City Council is expected to revisit the proposal at its Dec. 10 meeting.
SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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