The gist
The proposed ordinance would create a high-risk apartment inspection program, which would require properties with 10 or more habitability citations within 12 months to register as a “high-risk rental building.” Habitability citations or complaints can range from electrical hazards, plumbing violations and structural failures, and typically revolve around the living conditions of a property and whether it meets the habitation standards in accordance with the city’s code of ordinances.
These properties would undergo mandatory inspections from the city’s Apartment Standards Enforcement Committee (ASEC) and face misdemeanor fines ranging from $250 to $2,000 per violation a day, and possible revocation of the owner's certificate of occupancy and civil action if violations persist.
"The purpose of this ordinance is straightforward but profound—it is to protect our residents from substandard and dangerous housing conditions," Plummer said. “This is about shifting from a reactive stance to one of preventive care for our communities."
ASEC is a committee with members from multiple city departments, such as police, fire, engineering, health and super neighborhoods, that was created to reduce the frequency and severity of dangerous living conditions. Plummer’s Chief of Staff Munira Bangee said the proposed ordinance gives ASEC the ability to take properties off the high-risk rental buildings list if they deem the property has ceased their dangerous living conditions.
By the numbers
Plummer said that habitability complaints in multi-family housing has remained frequent, and that there is currently no cohesive way to address these persisting complaints.
From 2016 to 2021, 311 service requests were consistently around the 350,000 to 400,000 range; however, requests "skyrocketed" to 450,000 in 2024, according to a presentation shown during the committee meeting. 311 is the non-emergency service line to help Houston residents with issues such as traffic fines, sewer concerns, neighborhood complaints and pothole problems, according to the service’s website.
In 2024, over 2,400 311 service calls were made related to multi-family habitability violations, with District J receiving the most calls at 407.
What else?
Plummer also proposes that landlords with high-risk rental buildings should be required to complete an annual training of the Blue Star Training Program, a program that covers city and state habitability, best practices for property management and contact information for city departments and law enforcement.
Lastly, the proposed ordinance includes a special provision for senior living facilities, requiring them to provide a common area with generator power and a refrigerated space for medication storage during extreme weather events, according to the presentation.
What they’re saying
Houston Apartment Association CEO Casey Morgan said while the proposed ordinance is “well-intentioned and has great merit,” she believes property owners and landlords should have the time to ask questions and raise concerns. She said issues such as defining what owner means in the ordinance and who exactly gets fined, as well as apartment owner representation in the ASEC committee, are a few questions they hope to have answered.
“Sometimes owners are multiple LLCs, and they may not even be located in the city of Houston,” Morgan said. “So if you’re issuing a fine, who does the city fine in that situation?”
Taylor Laredo, a community navigator at Texas Housers, a nonprofit that supports low-income Texans towards affordable homes, said the ordinance will “be nothing short of a game changer,” as it will ensure Houston residents’ homes are safe.
“In my work with renters on the ground, I’ve seen firsthand the impact on tenants’ mental health and their physical well-being living in conditions that are inhabitable,” Laredo said. “The answer is never as simple as just move or just call and report the conditions. Tenants living in properties with substandard conditions are often fearful of retaliation and eviction for reporting poor conditions.”
What’s next
The committee voted unanimously on the proposed ordinance. After the ordinance goes through legal reviews and potential changes, it is expected to appear on the City Council agenda June 18 for a vote.
