HOUSTON – A judge has ordered the owners of a north Harris County apartment complex to take immediate action on serious safety concerns — following years of complaints from residents about neglect and dangerous living conditions.
Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin’s Office sought the action against the Palms at Rolling Creek, a 180-unit complex where residents have long reported sewage overflowing into storm drains, dangerous electrical equipment including junction boxes and open-wiring splices, and a lack of basic fire safety items like smoke alarms, fire lanes and emergency evacuation plans.
Recommended Videos
An injunction signed Tuesday, Aug. 11, lays out specific steps management must take. Within seven days, management must hire a licensed electrician to walk the property and identify electrical hazards. Within 30 days, the results of that assessment — along with a structural integrity assessment performed by a licensed engineer or architect — must be furnished to Harris County. Management is also required to notify residents of the assessments and provide smoke detectors and fire extinguishers for every unit.
“We’re not going to turn a blind eye to families forced to live in deplorable conditions in these complexes,” said County Attorney Abbie Kamin. “Everyone deserves a safe and clean place to live. We’re grateful to the court for recognizing the dire circumstances these families were subjected to.”
The County Attorney’s Office currently has two active lawsuits tied to the property — one focused on fire safety concerns and one addressing sewage overflow issues. The office represents Harris County and its residents in all civil legal matters.