Dallas Makes Rules Tougher on Landlords with New Housing Standards

Dallas leaders say renters will be less susceptible to slumlords after the City Council voted Wednesday to overhaul the city’s housing standards and require code inspections of single-family rental homes for the first time.

The new minimum housing standards also include more stringent air-conditioning requirements, better contact information for landlords and tougher code inspection rules.

Faith-based housing advocates Dallas Area Interfaith and the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas compromised on the most contentious new regulations, which paved the way for a 12-1 council vote. Despite lingering reservations, both sides believe the end result will mean better living conditions in the city.”Better is good,” said Mayor Mike Rawlings. “We’ve done good.”

Other council members lauded the changes, which were a major part of a broad push to improve housing in Dallas. Philip Kingston said the housing standards marked “a really good day in Dallas.”

“This is putting our money where our mouth is, which we don’t always do,” he said. “This body can be proud of itself that it has shown a commitment to improving the lives of the poor in Dallas.”

The new standards will affect all renters, who make up 56 percent of the city’s residents, and landlords. Dallas Area Interfaith began lobbying for tougher standards on landlords after its leaders visited the homes of Bachman Lake area residents. One of them, Iris Romo, remembers when the stove broke at her apartment. She said she called the office to request a replacement but got a slow response. Romo said her landlord finally replied, “Good, you get to eat out!” The apartment complex eventually fixed her stove, which then broke again two weeks later.
Others have shared their horror stories with the council in recent months. The result is that landlords will be required to repair appliances, provide better lighting, allow city code inspections and take care of pests.

Council members took up the issue as the city attorney’s office began a major court fight with landlord Dennis Topletz over his dozens of low-quality, low-rent southern Dallas homes.
The city’s southern half is flush with such low-rent houses.

Now, landlords will have to register their rental homes with the city for $21 a year. They can’t hide behind companies either; limited liability corporations and other companies that own rental homes will have to list their officers on their registration forms. Code inspectors will inspect single-family homes at least once every five years. The city plans to dedicate 15 code inspectors, at a cost of $1.1 million, to the effort this fiscal year. Landlords will have to post the code inspection scores “in a conspicuous place.”