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City of College Station new enforcement forcing an inspection of a rental unit

3,721 Views | 22 Replies | Last: 23 days ago by Bob Yancy
mamatrio
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4:00p, 8/19/24
City of College Station. Code enforcement has been directed by the Council to institute a 3 phase plan to implement Rental Inspections on all rental properties.
  • The 1st phase will be voluntary. We should be receiving more direction from the Council as to what they will be looking for in the inspections. The property owner would hire a Licensed inspector to look at all habitable items required by the City. When a home/unit passes inspection, it will go on a list the City will "advertise" as being in compliance with City ordinances. The fee for being on this list would be $75 (not including the cost of inspections). The home/unit would not have to be reinspected for 5 years.
  • The 2nd phase would be violation based in regard to habitable items (mainly repeat offenders/landlords not taking care of problems that were brought to the attention of the City)
  • The 3rd phase would be mandatory for all rental owners. This looks to be starting in Oct. 2026.


IS this legal for the COCS to force a homeowner to hire an inspector to P/F a rental house? Seems very fishy but the property management company I use sent this information in an email the other week.
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Gigem_94
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9:32p, 8/19/24
AG
Not sure why it wouldn't be legal. Nothing in state law that conflicts to my knowledge.
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Ryan the Temp
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In reply to mamatrio • 10:44a, 8/20/24
AG
mamatrio said:
IS this legal for the COCS to force a homeowner to hire an inspector to P/F a rental house? Seems very fishy but the property management company I use sent this information in an email the other week.
Yes. Houston has been doing this for years.
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SoTheySay
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1:34p, 8/20/24
S
Cannot wait until the city of CS messes with the wrong dad. It's long overdue.
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Heineken-Ashi
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2:27p, 8/20/24
Government operating as middle man or regulator is never a good thing and always ends up more costly for everyone involved. $75 to show up on a list plus the inspection fee I have to pay? Guess how much rent just increased by? Or.. guess how much the non-refundable portion of the deposit just increased to. Violations for what government deems should be acceptable (and even if its industry standard now, just wait.. government never loosens restrictions or admits error)? Renter will be paying for the upgrades I make.
"H-A: In return for the flattery, can you reduce the size of your signature? It's the only part of your posts that don't add value. In its' place, just put "I'm an investing savant, and make no apologies for it", as oldarmy1 would do."
- I Bleed Maroon (distracted easily by signatures)
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iisanaggie
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3:49p, 8/20/24
AG
I don't know about the legality of this, but the 5 year thing is dumb. So many things can break in that time or the owner can simply not do anything to keep it up to the level that would pass inspection.
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Heineken-Ashi
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In reply to iisanaggie • 5:06p, 8/20/24
iisanaggie said:
I don't know about the legality of this, but the 5 year thing is dumb. So many things can break in that time or the owner can simply not do anything to keep it up to the level that would pass inspection.
That's because it's not about being well intended. It's meant to generate revenue, both from compliance and non-compliance.
"H-A: In return for the flattery, can you reduce the size of your signature? It's the only part of your posts that don't add value. In its' place, just put "I'm an investing savant, and make no apologies for it", as oldarmy1 would do."
- I Bleed Maroon (distracted easily by signatures)
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CS78
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9:31p, 8/20/24
The real goal of rental registration.
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rilloaggie
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In reply to Ryan the Temp • 5:59a, 8/21/24
AG
Ryan the Temp said:
mamatrio said:
IS this legal for the COCS to force a homeowner to hire an inspector to P/F a rental house? Seems very fishy but the property management company I use sent this information in an email the other week.
Yes. Houston has been doing this for years.


I don't doubt you but can you post a link to this? Only thing I'm seeing similar in housing is for multi family, 3+ units.
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CS78
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7:00a, 8/21/24
Be interesting to see what this might do to the supply of licensed inspectors. Even at once every five years, this town doesn't have enough inspectors. And I can't imagine the existing inspectors will want to train and/ or manage an army of their own future competition.
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Deats99
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10:16p, 8/21/24
AG
You want Killdozer, this is how you get Killdozer!
A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.
-George S Patton
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12thMan9
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1:19p, 8/22/24
AG
What are "habitable items required by the city"? And is the fee to appear in an "advertisement" optional?
Ronnie '88
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bloom
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5:29p, 8/22/24
Is this the final ordinance inspection list? You absolutely do not need to pay a licensed inspector for these items. Torn window screens? Are they really going to make a landlord open up a wall that was fire code compliant when built and upgrade it to a new standard?
I think there are a lot of landlords in the city of College Station who take advantage of their tenants and do not maintain their properties properly. I'm just not sure this is the solution. I have a feeling it won't do anything to improve those properties and rents are going to go up.

ETA List: https://wtaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CScoun041323RentInspStaff.pdf
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CS78
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In reply to bloom • 8:30p, 8/22/24
That definitely gives off a warm and fuzzy hammer and sickle feeling.

I notice there's a number of things on the list that would be tenants responsibility. Guess need to add those to future leases.

And one other complaint, how come Ive been on the rental registration since inception and this is the first Im hearing about this?
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whoop1995
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4:32p, 8/25/24
AG
Once government gets into something they never let go and keep pushing till they are in control of it all - it will get worse and eventually strangle economy as nothing is ever rescinded. More rules and regulations that the renter/incoming student will have to pay for driving up costs for everyone,

No one in government will take the blame when the time comes (even though they have caused the problem) as that will be passed on to the owner shoulders. Government will pick an angle that will blame the owners always. Seen this a thousand times play out with all levels of government. Most are money grabs by the government and it is really a shame that this is happening in college station.
I collect ticket stubs! looking for a 1944 orange bowl and 1981 independence bowl ticket stub as well as Aggie vs tu stubs - 1926 and below, 1935-1937, 1939-1944, 1946-1948, 1950-1951, 1953, 1956-1957, 1959, 1960, 1963-1966, 1969-1970, 1972-1974, 1980, 1984, 1990, 2004, 2008, 2010
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Red Pear Luke (BCS)
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4:40a, 8/26/24
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AG
While I agree this is a vehemently opposed proposed overstep by the COCS…

This is all just a proposal at this time. Nothing more. And it was back in '22 & spring '23.

So no need to panic just yet until it moves out of proposal stages. Plus - the city is mindful of the hand that feeds with respect to the property taxes paid by these rentals. It may just take some time to have them pull their head out their arse. Similar things with speed cameras in CS until the voters forced em to remove them.

I'm going to keep my ear out there though and see if it's really moving forward or just more proposing. Until then, still business as usual.
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dubi
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9:27a, 8/26/24
AG
This is ridiculous!

Some of us keep our rentals in tip top shape and should NOT be forced to pay for a stupid inspection. On the other hand, the slumlords will continue to have complaints about everything under the sun and they will not spend a dime to improve their units.

Also will they use their access to our properties to raise our property taxes if we make interior improvements?

/another stupid decision by the COCS overlords

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Bob Yancy
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11:01a, 10/6/24
We will be discussing this at Council tomorrow night, Monday. October 7. It's item 9.1, first on the regular agenda. Anyone who wishes to speak to this item should arrive around 6:45pm or a bit sooner. Speakers should register with the city secretary online at least 3 hours before the meeting. Emails can be sent in lieu of showing up and there is also an online form you can fill out. Go to www.cstx.gov, departments, city council, public comment.

https://www.cstx.gov/departments___city_hall/council/comments

Respectfully,

Bob Yancy
My opinions are mine and should not be construed as those of city council or staff. I welcome robust debate but will cease communication on any thread in which colleagues or staff are personally criticized. I must refrain from comment on posted agenda items until after meetings are concluded. Bob Yancy 95
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2020
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In reply to Bob Yancy • 11:28a, 10/6/24
Bob Yancy said:
We will be discussing this at Council tomorrow night, Monday. October 7. It's item 9.1, first on the regular agenda. Anyone who wishes to speak to this item should arrive around 6:45pm or a bit sooner. Speakers should register with the city secretary online at least 3 hours before the meeting. Emails can be sent in lieu of showing up and there is also an online form you can fill out. Go to www.cstx.gov, departments, city council, public comment.

https://www.cstx.gov/departments___city_hall/council/comments

Respectfully,

Bob Yancy


Bob,
Will this apply to ALL rental units in the city? Including larger complexes and not just SFR's & small multiplexes? Or will this be another cash grab like the rental registration which only applies to the small fish landlords and not these larger complexes?
The rental registration was forced through under the guise of having up to date emergency contact information on hand for the premises. That information is almost never current for the multiple problematic large complexes in town when an emergency arises. Especially since management changes so often.
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Bob Yancy
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In reply to 2020 • 1:22p, 10/6/24
2020 said:
Bob Yancy said:
We will be discussing this at Council tomorrow night, Monday. October 7. It's item 9.1, first on the regular agenda. Anyone who wishes to speak to this item should arrive around 6:45pm or a bit sooner. Speakers should register with the city secretary online at least 3 hours before the meeting. Emails can be sent in lieu of showing up and there is also an online form you can fill out. Go to www.cstx.gov, departments, city council, public comment.

https://www.cstx.gov/departments___city_hall/council/comments

Respectfully,

Bob Yancy


Bob,
Will this apply to ALL rental units in the city? Including larger complexes and not just SFR's & small multiplexes? Or will this be another cash grab like the rental registration which only applies to the small fish landlords and not these larger complexes?
The rental registration was forced through under the guise of having up to date emergency contact information on hand for the premises. That information is almost never current for the multiple problematic large complexes in town when an emergency arises. Especially since management changes so often.


It's proposed in stages. I can't deliberate here as it's on the posted agenda. I can say I was skeptical of it back in April 23. I'll be asking a lot of questions.

Respectfully

Yancy
My opinions are mine and should not be construed as those of city council or staff. I welcome robust debate but will cease communication on any thread in which colleagues or staff are personally criticized. I must refrain from comment on posted agenda items until after meetings are concluded. Bob Yancy 95
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2020
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In reply to Bob Yancy • 1:33p, 10/6/24
Bob Yancy said:
2020 said:
Bob Yancy said:
We will be discussing this at Council tomorrow night, Monday. October 7. It's item 9.1, first on the regular agenda. Anyone who wishes to speak to this item should arrive around 6:45pm or a bit sooner. Speakers should register with the city secretary online at least 3 hours before the meeting. Emails can be sent in lieu of showing up and there is also an online form you can fill out. Go to www.cstx.gov, departments, city council, public comment.

https://www.cstx.gov/departments___city_hall/council/comments

Respectfully,

Bob Yancy


Bob,
Will this apply to ALL rental units in the city? Including larger complexes and not just SFR's & small multiplexes? Or will this be another cash grab like the rental registration which only applies to the small fish landlords and not these larger complexes?
The rental registration was forced through under the guise of having up to date emergency contact information on hand for the premises. That information is almost never current for the multiple problematic large complexes in town when an emergency arises. Especially since management changes so often.


It's proposed in stages. I can't deliberate here as it's on the posted agenda. I can say I was skeptical of it back in April 23. I'll be asking a lot of questions.

Respectfully

Yancy


Thank you
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SoTheySay
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6:17a, 10/9/24
S
Yancy, I attended the meeting this week and I want to publicly thank you for asking the right questions and pointing out the flaws we all see.

I will be there at the next meeting and have every intention to speak so that the holes in their "let's only focus on phase 1" plan continues to be exposed.

I highly encourage anyone with questions to have a listen to this past meeting where the vote was postponed. It's almost as if the city wanted it to go ahead and be voted on despite the MANY, obviously important and basic questions that went unanswered.
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Bob Yancy
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In reply to SoTheySay • 6:41a, 10/9/24
SoTheySay said:
Yancy, I attended the meeting this week and I want to publicly thank you for asking the right questions and pointing out the flaws we all see.

I will be there at the next meeting and have every intention to speak so that the holes in their "let's only focus on phase 1" plan continues to be exposed.

I highly encourage anyone with questions to have a listen to this past meeting where the vote was postponed. It's almost as if the city wanted it to go ahead and be voted on despite the MANY, obviously important and basic questions that went unanswered.


Yes, staff presented this as a phased program ultimately resulting in a proactive, mandatory rental inspection program. They did that because council directed them to last year. I was against it. It feels like a government solution looking for a problem to solve. It will be expensive. Code enforcement staff are stretched thin already. See-Click-Fix is already working, too.

My $.02

Respectfully,

Yancy

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