HOUSTON – A frustrated Houston resident reached out to KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun after seeing our coverage of dilapidated homes and the struggles with the city’s Department of Neighborhoods.
She’s been battling for nearly seven years to get help addressing the vacant, crumbling house next to her own property but says she’s only received broken promises and no real action.
“I have been fighting with this department since 2017ish,” she wrote in an email. “The neighbor to our right has abandoned her property, and we have had zero help. They issue citations after citations with no follow-up.”
According to the homeowner, the city has held multiple hearings to decide whether to demolish the structure, but each time, the hearings are either rescheduled or civil penalties are issued without any resolution. In the meantime, the property has become overgrown with weeds, the roof has caved in, and branches from dying oak trees are falling onto her own home and yard.
Balogun will be live on KPRC 2 News at 5 and 6 with more on the ongoing struggle homeowners face dealing with abandoned properties in Houston.
What you can do
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.