‘It’s more than I signed up for:’ Residents ready to move after electricity problems at Heights apartments

HOUSTON – After nearly two weeks of battling with their landlord, many residents of a Houston Heights apartment complex are looking to move out and move on with their lives.

The Durham Heights apartments, located on West 26th Street near the 610 Loop, were without power, air conditioning and running water for more than a week following the May 16 severe outbreak.

It was not until this Saturday that the building was finally restored. And only then was it a slow process to get each apartment back online with electricity and air conditioning, a necessity in Houston’s brutal heat wave this weekend. Memorial Day.

CenterPoint says it was able to restore power Saturday afternoon after necessary repairs which were the responsibility of the homeowner.

Meanwhile, residents were evicted after a Houston city inspector came and deemed the property uninhabitable, posting a notice on the door.

This ended up being the icing on the cake for residents who were already on the verge of retiring and finding a new home.

“I’m 65 years old. This is more than I committed to,” said Linda Carrette. “It’s a little too late. Thursday of last week I had to go ahead and find a place to live.

She is not alone.

Most of the people KPRC2’s Gage Goulding spoke with said they were looking for housing elsewhere.

“Unfortunately, I don’t see myself staying in a place where I can’t even ask a simple question,” Opal Francis said.

Even though power is restored, many residents say everything is not working or appliances have broken down due to the cause of the major electrical problem in the building.

“Yeah, my refrigerator is flashing,” Carrette said.

On top of that, residents shouldn’t even return to their homes because the city has yet to rescind its order declaring the building uninhabitable.

“Actually, we’re not supposed to do it yet because the city hasn’t removed its habitable status yet,” Francis said.

It is this same label that could be their ticket out of their lease, according to a lawyer specializing in housing law.

“I think if there is a notice on the door that has been posted by any authority, like the city or the fire marshal, I think a tenant can rely on that to break the lease ” explained Dana Karni of Lone Star Legal Aid. “We recommend that tenants go out of their way and pay for certified mail with return receipt requested. We also strongly suggest hand delivery, but let’s remember it. This means getting out your cell phone and your video or audio. Record that you actually deliver a copy of the letter and retain a copy of the letter for your own records.

After that, move out.

“From the moment the tenant moves out, the tenant is entitled to a prorated refund of the rent they paid and their entire security deposit,” Karni said.

The same plan applies to repairs. Send a repair request in writing and ensure delivery.

Your landlord has seven days to make these repairs, which the state declares to be a “reasonable time.”

“These seven days would begin when the owner receives the letter. I think it is imperative that tenants send a letter requesting repair as soon as possible,” Karni said. “Tenants have very few rights in Texas, but renters have some rights.”

Understanding these rights can help you if you ever find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place with your landlord.

If you have questions or need assistance regarding pending litigation, Lone Star Legal Aid may be able to help you. Call 713-652-0077.