After months of delays and debate, Houston is contemplating a brand new condo ordinance to determine town’s 20 worst-performing condo complexes, this time with a deliberate push for broader neighborhood engagement earlier than a ultimate vote.
Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas, chair of the Housing and Affordability Committee, and Mayor Professional Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, chair of the Financial Improvement Committee, are main two public conferences designed to assemble suggestions from tenants and property managers earlier than bringing a revised proposal again to Metropolis Council.
The ordinance
Underneath the ordinance, the properties designated as “excessive danger” can be positioned on a registry and inspected. Landlords who fail to conform may very well be fined $250 to $2,500 per day, and in excessive circumstances, they might lose their occupancy certificates.
The ordinance, led by former at-large council member Letitia Plummer and generally known as the House Inspection Ordinance, has confronted repeated postponements since late 2025 as a consequence of issues about enforceability and inadequate public enter.
In response to Thomas, earlier variations stalled as a result of stakeholders stated they weren’t absolutely concerned within the course of and since the administration was not ready to maneuver ahead with out broader engagement.
“57 to 60% of Houstonians are leaseholders,” Thomas stated in an interview, underscoring the dimensions of residents doubtlessly affected. She described the present technique as “reverse engineering” the standard coverage course of by internet hosting neighborhood conferences first, then finalizing ordinance language.
The primary assembly, held on the Alief Neighborhood Heart, introduced collectively elected officers, metropolis departments, tenants, and landlords in a structured format.
Castex-Tatum stated the administration deliberately paired housing and financial growth management to craft a extra complete strategy. The purpose, she stated, is to supply one thing “useful for everybody” whereas making certain significant neighborhood enter.
What the ordinance goals to deal with
On a mean day, Houston’s 311 system receives roughly 10 apartment-related complaints about points similar to damaged heaters, sewage issues, busted pipes, and different points.
Between 2020 and 2024, 311 recorded 18,000 complaints categorized as “multifamily habitability violations”.
Underneath the proposed modifications, town might revive the House Requirements Enforcement Committee (ASEC), a 12-member physique initially created in 2013 to coordinate responses to substandard multifamily housing.
The up to date ordinance would make clear ASEC’s roles and obligations and set up standards for figuring out problematic properties.
Complexes rating within the prime 5 for 311 complaints associated to residing circumstances, together with not less than 10 well being or security citations, might fall beneath its enforcement authority.
Division capability and enforcement gaps
On the Alief assembly, representatives from a number of departments outlined their roles in condo enforcement.
Jim Clark, chief inspector on the Fireplace Marshal’s workplace, stated the residential staff operates on a four-year inspection cycle and handles roughly 500 apartment-related complaints yearly, along with managing red-tag notifications for hearth security programs.
Thomas stated security issues are among the many most frequent points residents elevate, together with rising rents and deteriorating infrastructure. She additionally pointed to challenges with absentee landlords.
“Our downside with properties is often those the place they’re not in Houston, and so they’re not in Texas,” Thomas stated. “They’re not part of our neighborhood. So there’s no vested curiosity in him.”
Castex-Tatum emphasised that accountability mechanisms will differ relying on whether or not properties obtain public funding, noting that compliance instruments are stronger when federal, state, or metropolis {dollars} are concerned.
What tenants stated
1. Mildew and water injury: Tenants described ongoing mildew issues, usually tied to roof leaks, flooding, hurricanes, plumbing failures, and sewage backups. One resident stated the ceiling collapsed after the rain.
2. Sewage backups and flooding: Residents reported uncooked sewage getting into models and remaining for days earlier than drying up.
3. Rodents: Complaints included rats and bats inside partitions.
4. Upkeep failures: Tenants talked about damaged gates that by no means shut, poor lighting, indifferent or unsafe staircases and patios, elevators not working, home windows broken or mold-covered, and home equipment like fridges not being changed for months.
5. Crime and security issues: Residents cited unsafe residing circumstances as a consequence of crime.
6. Retaliation fears: Tenants expressed worry of retaliation for reporting points. Some stated administration refused to launch them from leases after complaints and locked out residents (immigrants unfamiliar with their rights).
7. Monetary burden of “reduction”: Even when landlords provided lease termination, tenants stated transferring prices successfully discouraged complaints.
8. Change of possession: Frequent possession and administration modifications have been described as creating enforcement challenges.
Balancing enforcement and affordability
Houston’s rental market stays tight.
In 2025, town posted the very best occupancy fee amongst main Texas cities at 89%, whereas rents declined solely barely, by 0.8%, in keeping with knowledge cited within the ordinance advisory.
Furthermore, metropolis knowledge present that almost 58% of Houston households are renters.
Council members say enforcement should be balanced with efforts to increase housing provide. Castex-Tatum pointed to town’s 9% tax credit score course of and the necessity to enhance reasonably priced housing inventory.
“We need to encourage extra builders to place these models on the bottom in order that we received’t have a scarcity of our housing inventory, which creates that sort of competitors,” she stated.
What’s subsequent?
The subsequent neighborhood assembly is scheduled for March 5, 6 p.m. to eight p.m., on the Harris County Division of Schooling constructing. It can cowl Districts B, C, D, E, H, and I. The primary assembly lined districts A, F, G, J, and Okay.
