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Houston
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Report a problem

If your Houston rental has no working AC in a room you live, sleep, eat, or cook in, here's how to report it.

  1. 1

    Tell your landlord in writing

    Send the repair request to the person or place where you normally pay rent, and keep a copy. Texas law requires a diligent repair effort for a condition that materially affects an ordinary tenant's health or safety, once you give notice and you're current on rent. Notice must be written only if your lease is written and requires it, but writing gives you a record either way.

  2. 2

    Contact Houston 311

    Call 311, or 713.837.0311 from any phone. The line is open 24 hours a day, every day. You can also file through the 311 request website or the Houston 311 app.

  3. 3

    A city inspector looks into it

    After a 311 complaint, the City sends an inspector to examine it. Landlords get a chance to fix the problem first.

  4. 4

    If it isn't fixed

    The City can issue an administrative citation or summons, or a criminal citation after a written warning. Fines run $200 to $2,000, and each day counts as a separate offense.

Your protection against retaliation

  • Houston's codeOwners and managers can't retaliate against a resident for reporting violations.
  • Texas law, for six monthsAfter a good faith complaint to a code agency, or a repair request, a landlord can't retaliate by filing an eviction (except on allowed grounds), taking away use of the home without legal reason, cutting services, raising rent, ending the lease, or interfering with your lease rights in bad faith.
  • Before December 17, 2026Owners have until then to comply, but must make reasonable and continuous progress in the meantime. The full rule