HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A North Harris County apartment complex is under a court order to make safety improvements and keep tenants better informed, following years of complaints and legal action by the Harris County Attorney’s Office.
The Palms on Rolling Creek Apartments, owned by Globix Palms Rolling, LLC, is now subject to an agreed temporary injunction requiring management to take specific steps to address safety hazards within strict deadlines. The order does not require residents to leave or the complex to shut down.
KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel first reported on conditions at the complex on Monday after a pregnant woman and her husband said they were without power for roughly 48 hours, had their calls to management ignored and were then locked out of their apartment when management changed their locks without notice. A Harris County Sheriff’s deputy who responded to help the couple suffered an electrical shock while checking a breaker box, according to the sheriffs office.
The court order comes after years of tenant complaints about neglect and mismanagement, according to the Harris County Attorney’s Office.
When Corley asked management representative, Frank, what the complex was doing to address the issues, he gave a brief response.
“Ma’am, I cannot provide you that many details, but we are working on every single thing,” Frank said.
When pressed about the judge’s order, he added, “We are constantly sending every single report and every single detail to them. We are working on it. We are aware of things.”
Under the terms of the agreed temporary injunction, management must:
- Within 7 days: Hire a licensed electrician to fix electrical hazards throughout the complex.
- Within 7 days: Notify tenants about structural assessments being conducted.
- Within 7 days: Hire licensed professionals to inspect the complex for structural issues.
- Within 30 days: Ensure every unit has working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
- Within 30 days: Report all safety concerns to Harris County.
“We’re not going to turn a blind eye to families forced to live in deplorable conditions in these complexes,” Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin said in a statement. “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 Harris County Attorney’s Office says the injunction is part of broader legal action against the property. Two active lawsuits are currently pending, one focused on fire safety concerns, and another addressing sewage overflow issues at the complex. According to the injunction, a trial in the case is scheduled for next year.