Bohac Speaks in Front of Houston City Council for Apartment Inspection Program

HOUSTON—The Houston City Council Committee on Regulation, Development and Neighborhood Protection met on Wednesday, October 15th to take public testimony on the implementation of House Bill 1819 by State Representative Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) and Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston).

House Bill 1819 requires the city of Houston to adopt multi-family housing standards. During the legislative session Bohac and Ellis worked with city officials, civic leaders and other stakeholders on language for the bill that requires Houston to establish a regular inspection program with stiff penalties for apartment owners who fail to correct habitability, structural and safety issues. Once the standards have been adopted by city council, the inspection program will begin and adequate personnel will be dedicated to this important task.

Bohac, who was an invited speaker at the meeting, is pleased and encouraged by the progress of the ordinance.

The Regulation, Development and Neighborhood Protection Committee, which is chaired by Councilmember Toni Lawrence, will draft the ordinance that the full city council will vote on as early as next week.

Under the inspection program the oldest properties will be inspected first. After this initial inspection, all properties will be inspected on a regular, cyclical basis. An initial draft of the new ordinance proposes inspecting 46 different items including structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and other safety and aesthetic conditions.

“The over 1 million Houstonians that live in multi-family buildings deserve protection from substandard living conditions. The adoption of this ordinance represents great progress in protecting apartment residents and the surrounding neighborhoods and communities, said Bohac.”