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Behind the crime scenes at Houston apartment complexes lie crime statistics.

KHOU - TV

New city ordinance aims at keeping tennants safe

For example, about 30 percent of Houston’s murders this year have happened on apartment properties.

Some properties set their own rules.

And that’s why, at City Hall, they’re talking about unsafe complexes.

“And that’s the ones that we’re after.  These are the ones that have been visited time and time again and been reported.  It’s time for those property owners to take responsibility for the safety of the tenants,” said John Walsh, Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Neighborhoods and Housing.

And so, a proposed apartment security ordinance would establish an index to identify high crime complexes.

The managers of those units would have to meet with police to come up with a crime reduction plan, possibly new fencing or lighting.   

Complexes that don’t comply could face fines and courts injunctions.

Houston has about 2300 apartment complexes and the association that lobbies them generally supports this idea but with some reservations.

“We operate apartments.  We can rent you an apartment.  We can do the maintenance.  We can keep the place clean and nice.  We’re not police officers.  So there are limits to the things that we can do. We just want to make sure that the ordinance recognizes those limits,” said Andy Teas who is the Houston Apartment Association lobbyist.

They’ve been talking about this proposed ordinance at City Hall for months.

Some people who’ve been following this debate still have some questions about it.

For example, a police officer inspecting a high-crime complex could suggest that the landlord institute tighter screening for future tenants.

“I get a lot of calls from people who have been arrested, and they’re now good citizens, and it’s so hard for them to get an apartment, a decent place to live,” said councilwoman Ada Edwards.

So now, behind the apartment crime scenes lies an apartment crime debate.