New Apartment Inspections Program to Bring Safer Living Conditions

Published on March 23, 2023

Focuses on complexes not meeting minimum living standards

SAN ANTONIO (March 23, 2023) — Today, City Council approved a new proactive apartment inspections program to ensure that apartment complexes are meeting living standards for local renters. Beginning April 2, the City of San Antonio’s Development Services Department will proactively inspect apartment complexes with multiple code citations to provide safer housing conditions for local renters. The inspections will ensure the apartments are providing proper living standards.
 
“This program helps ensure safer living conditions for San Antonio renters. The ability to proactively inspect apartments also gives the City the tools needed to hold property owners responsible for maintenance,” said City Manager Erik Walsh. “I want to thank the Development Services Department and our community stakeholders for developing and bringing this program to fruition.” 

How the Program will work

The City of San Antonio will maintain a registry of apartment complexes that have been cited for code violations. Apartment complexes with five or more units within San Antonio city limits could be required to be listed on the registry if they:

• Receive three designated citations within a six-month period,
• Are not maintaining property to minimum code standards,
• Or have allowed property to develop health, safety, life, and welfare problems.

Properties registered will be subject to monthly inspections while in the program. Registered apartment complexes will remain on the registry for a minimum of six months.
 
“Apartment complexes present unique challenges, affecting many tenants and families at once. The key is to incentivize good property management, and to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of our residents” said Michael Shannon, Development Services Department Director. “Holding property owners accountable for having too many violations of basic housing safety standards will help us achieve this.”
 
The program includes property owner incentives to improve overall compliance. Properties may be removed from the registry if they improve and meet certain requirements. Properties must have less than three citations in a six-month period and correct all violations to be removed from the registry and will remain in probation for a period of four years., If the property falls back into the program, they will remain in the registry for a full year. The registration fee is $100 per unit, per year.