The proposed program faces challenges, including a limited number of building inspectors. In its first year, the “high-risk rental building” registry will only list a dozen properties — a sliver of the 4,800 known apartment complexes in the city.
After facing delays in 2025, a long-awaited ordinance to crack down on problematic apartment complexes in Houston is expected to receive a vote by the city council within the next 30 days.
The ordinance would create a registry of “high-risk rental buildings.” Apartment complexes that receive ten citations for health and safety issues within six months would be placed on the registry, and they would be subject to $250 to $2,000 daily fines for each unresolved violation.
According to Steven David, an executive within Mayor John Whitmire’s office, the city has already identified 12 properties it expects to list on the registry…