The City Councilor Tiffany Thomas asked for updated information on violations and repairs; the municipal registry only offers general figures.
A list of the city of Houston obtained by ABC13 includes 11 apartment complexes classified as high-risk rental properties. The investigation was published on November 12, 2026, just over six months after the City Council approved a special inspection program for properties with repeated violations.
Several of the complexes included in the document now operate under different names, according to ABC13. Among them is the property at the top of the list, located near the intersection of South Gessner Road and Bissonnet Street, in southwest Houston.
The list does not reveal which violations were corrected
The record shows how many municipal citations and 311 complaints each property received, but does not explain the reasons for the violations, when they occurred, or whether the problems were addressed.
Tiffany Thomas, District F Councilwoman, told ABC13 that she expected a public dashboard with updated information about the properties and their repairs. A resident of the complex located near South Gessner and Bissonnet told the channel that it would have helped to know those background details before moving in. The tenant asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.
According to ABC13, the document lists August as the publication month. Thomas said she first saw it about two weeks before the November 12 report.
Houston Public Works told the channel that it was reviewing the questions forwarded by the outlet about the registry.
Municipal Ordinance 2026-0388 requires that trade names and the addresses of properties remain available for public inquiry while they are enrolled in the program. However, that provision does not expressly require the publication of a dashboard with the dates of violations and the progress of repairs.
Ten Citations in Six Months Trigger High-Risk Classification
The ordinance, approved on May 6, 2026, states that a multifamily rental building must be classified as high-risk when it accumulates at least 10 eligible citations within a six-month period.
The violations considered include structural problems, electrical hazards, failures in fire protection systems, unsanitary conditions, and unfulfilled repair orders. If a property receives multiple citations on the same day, they are counted as a single one toward the limit.
A 311 complaint does not automatically equate to a citation. Nor can it be concluded that all of a property’s violations remain outstanding simply because it appears in the registry obtained by ABC13.
Once notified, the owner has 15 days to enroll the property in the program. The city must conduct an initial inspection within 30 days after enrollment and another follow-up inspection within 30 days after the first.
Related: Houston approves new rules for apartments with safety issues.
How to Report Safety Issues in Houston Apartments to 311
The ordinance requires that multifamily rental buildings display a notice in English and Spanish informing residents how to report conditions that pose a health or safety hazard, whether to the property management or to Houston 311.
The municipal service receives reports 24 hours a day through these channels:
- Phone: 311 or 713-837-0311.
- Internet: Houston 311.
- Email: [email protected].
- Mobile app: Houston 311.
When submitting a report, it is advisable to provide the exact address of the property, describe the problem and keep the case number to consult the status of the request. If there is an emergency or an immediate danger to life, you should call 911.
