HOUSTON – Houston leaders are once again debating whether stricter oversight of apartment complexes could improve safety and living conditions for thousands of renters across the city.
The renewed push comes as tenants in some complexes say problems ranging from squatters to crime and neglected maintenance.
At Ashford Court Apartments on Houston’s west side, Evangeline Edison says she walked into a nightmare.
“Yeah, it was squatters in my home,” she said. “Like, dude, that’s scary. I mean, they said [they were] welcomed here.”
Another tenant, Swandolawn Brewer, said while she sees some effort from on-site management, she’s still ready to leave.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on over here. I don’t know, but I’m ready to move up out of here,” Brewer said.
Brewer said she has seen vacant units boarded up after people broke in and stayed inside.
In a phone interview, Ashford Court property manager Ray Royal said he works closely with the Houston Police Department to address crime and trespassing.
“Honestly, Mr. Rilwan, I call HPD every day, pretty much,” Royal said. “I’m at work because I feel that my residents that live here should be able to enjoy the community without the bad apples off of the street.”
Royal said squatting remains an ongoing issue and believes much of the trouble stems from people who do not live at the complex.
But District F Council Member Tiffany Thomas says the problems are broader than just outside criminal activity.
Calls for service and out-of-state owners
Thomas said District F, which includes Ashford Court, sees some of the highest calls for service in the city.
“The highest calls for service from HPD is in District F off of Ashford Point, one of our problematic apartment complexes,” she said.
Thomas noted that the owner of that property does not live in Texas and argued that absentee ownership can slow accountability.
“I think there’s also an intersection of the bad operators and their connection into our city,” Thomas said. “If they’re even located in Texas and why it often takes so long to hold them accountable because they’re simply not here.”
She added that many complaints tied to multifamily properties involve quality-of-life and public safety concerns: broken lighting, overgrown landscaping, unsecured vacant units, sewage backups and crime.
City Council members have been discussing an apartment inspection ordinance for months.
“We’re not slow walking this ordinance. We are surgical with this ordinance,” Thomas said.
If approved, the ordinance would create a more formal inspection and enforcement structure for multifamily properties, particularly those with repeated violations or high police call volumes.
Still, she cautioned that new rules must come with real enforcement.
“We can’t just put ordinance on the books without enforcing them and having oftentimes personnel to support it,” Thomas said. “Many of them. Many of them, and that’s the problem.”
The city is also examining a list of the most problematic properties and considering expanding oversight beyond an initial group.
A different approach: local ownership
Thomas points to Crossview Court as an example of proactive ownership.
Property owner Matthew Nickson said his family has owned the complex for more than 30 years.
“I think it’s wrong to have a property that you don’t take care of. It’s people’s homes. I mean, people are paying the rent,” Nickson said.
Nickson said some out-of-state investors may prioritize short-term gains.
“For people coming from California or New York the values here quite low so they’re attractive for that reason,” he said. He added that investors in large-syndicated deals may profit “regardless of whether they maintain the property well or not.”
Nickson said living locally allows him to respond quickly to maintenance needs and tenant concerns often cutting through approval delays that can slow repairs at other complexes.
Before taking a final vote, council members are hosting two public meetings to gather feedback from tenants, property managers and landlords.
- Districts A, F, G, J & K: Thursday, Feb. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at Alief Neighborhood Center, 11903 Bellaire Blvd
- Districts C, B, H, I, D & E: Thursday, March 5 from 6-8 p.m. at Harris County Dept. of Education, 6300 Irving Blvd
“If you are a lease holder, you are property manager, you are an operator or a landlord. This is the opportunity to learn a couple of things,” Thomas said.
For renters like Edison, the policy debate is about something much simpler.
“I want a little respectful in and have my apartment, right?” she said.
As City Council moves closer to a decision, many tenants are watching to see whether this ordinance will finally bring lasting change or become another rule on the books without enforcement.