03:19 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 17, 2006

By Mark Greenblatt / 11 News Defenders

Click to watch video

How would you like a landlord that charges you unbelievably cheap rent? How about one that never raises that rent for decades?

And how about if he never even charged you a late fee either?

Well it’s really happening and all over our area.

So who is the landlord? The city of Houston.

But the 11 News Defenders have discovered that you the taxpayer are footing the bill for Houston officials dropping the ball. Plus some of the “tenants” getting those nifty monetary breaks are those who need it least: high‑profile businesses.

Take one example: In midtown Houston there’s the posh restaurant “Brennan’s.” They’ve paid just $200 month for a parking area for 24 years! It turns out the last time the city checked on rental and property values there was 1977.

And that’s just the beginning.

Watch 11 News for the complete story

City Councilman Michael Berry was flabbergasted by what we found:

“If you had told me that happened and not shown me I wouldn’t have believed that,” he said. “It borders on criminal that the taxpayer could be cheated that badly.”

So what do those responsible have to say?

And wait till you hear the Houston mayor’s reaction.