HOUSTON – A Houston area renter has found herself in the hot seat after trying to be patriotic ahead of the Fourth of July Holiday goes wrong.
Diane Zuniga reached out to KPRC 2 after she said she received a “lease violation” from her apartment complex at 11101 West Airport Blvd. because she put up a pennant resembling the American flag and lights on her balcony.
According to the violation notice, the Arc at the Grid apartment complex stated that Zuniga violated her lease by adding lights and a flag on the balcony, which are not allowed. The document specified that residents are only permitted to have patio furniture and plants on their balcony, per the lease agreement.
Chain of events, according to Zuniga:
Sunday night -Diane Zuniga put up a pennant in the colors of the American flag Sunday evening ahead of Independence Day. She used zip ties to put it on the railing next to lights she said she’s had up for months.
Monday afternoon - Zuniga said her dog was nipping on something at her door. It wasn’t until she went to get her dog, that she realized she was cited for the pennant and the lights.
Zuniga said she then made a homemade sign, which read, “Keep fining me RPM Living. I will not take down the American flag. Bill of rights over lease terms. Home of the brave. Land of the free.”
She said the sign is hanging up on her balcony.
Tuesday afternoon - KPRC 2 interviewed Zuniga at her home and shared she felt she was being retaliated against after complaining about issues on the property. She shared that she had a nearly 5-foot angel decoration up for months and never received a citation.