Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media

After four years of development, a proposed ordinance to ramp up inspections and fines of allegedly problematic apartment complexes was delayed Wednesday by Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer — the author of the law, who in an interview pointed to pressure from an industry association.

The proposed ordinance is intended to protect residents from substandard and dangerous housing conditions through more stringent enforcement and required registration. If approved, it would create a new registry of High Risk Rental Buildings, based on the volume of 311 complaints and habitability-related citations. Buildings in the registry would be subject to additional inspections and daily fines for persistent violations of health and safety standards.

The

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