Do this today
- Write the problem. Date it. Keep photos.
- Open a request with Houston 311 or dial 311.
- Do not skip rent until legal aid has read the process for your state.
Who inspects a Houston rental?
Houston 311 is the local conditions door, and 311 is often how you open a request. An inspector’s dated notice is a different kind of paper than a text to the manager. There is no Houston rent board. Code enforcement and 311 are the City doors. Possession is a justice-court case.
Can I stop paying rent to force the repair?
Sometimes Texas law provides a repair-and-deduct or rent-withholding process, and sometimes skipping rent is grounds for eviction. That line is in Texas Property Code — residential tenancies. Ask legal aid before you change what you pay.
The Houston layer
There is no Houston rent board. Code enforcement and 311 are the City doors. Possession is a justice-court case.
Texas Property Code — residential tenancies (Tex. Prop. Code ch. 92) is the Texas floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Houston questions
My landlord in Houston will not make repairs — what can I do?
Put it in writing. Keep photos. File with Houston 311 or dial 311. Do not skip rent until legal aid has read Texas Property Code — residential tenancies with you.
Is 311 enough?
311 opens a City request. It is not a court case and it is not legal aid. Keep the request number. If the unit is dangerous tonight, 911 or the utility first.
What number should I call in Houston?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. Houston 311 does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org