HOUSTON – For the past several weeks, we have been speaking with residents in the Houston area who say they are fed up with vacant buildings in their area.
On Thursday at 10 p.m., Investigative reporter Robert Arnold is speaking with residents in a neighborhood located in the Woodside subdivision who said for the past two years, they’ve been dealing with an eyesore in their neighborhood.
Last week, Rilwan Balogun spoke with northeast Houston resident Monique Jones, who complained about an abandoned home next door to her father’s home that was causing her issues for months.
After our story, the city of Houston sent workers to the area to clean up the abandoned home.
But why did it take that long and for us to get involved? The city says it’s working with the owners of these homes to get them cleaned up.
In the meantime, if you have an abandoned home or structure in your neighborhood that’s causing you problems or is just an eyesore, here are some steps you can take to report the issue to the city:
1. Document the property: Take clear and detailed photographs or videos of the abandoned structure from different angles. This visual evidence will be crucial when making a report.
2. Note the location: Make a note of the exact address or specific location of the abandoned structure. This information will help authorities locate and assess the property easily.
3. File a report with the Harris County Tax Office: Complete this form and mail it to the Harris County Tax Office.
4. File a complaint with the city of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department. You can call them at 832-394-6200 (ext 2) or email HCDDComplaintsAppeal@houstontx.gov. To file the complaint, you will need a name, phone number, address, and a short reason for the complaint.
5. Contact Harris County Public Health: Once filing the complaint, Harris County Public Health said it will investigate the issue and issue a nuisance notification to the property owner, which will give them 30 days to eliminate the nuisance. If the owner fails to comply, the city will then issue a civil action or criminal prosecution.
6. Call 311.