How to Choose Safe Housing
How to Choose Safe Housing
Search Before You Sign
Many Austin residents live in rental properties including apartments or duplexes. If a rental home has unresolved maintenance issues it could be a code violation but most importantly, pose a safety risk for tenants or neighbors.
The owner or landlord of a property is responsible for the upkeep and overall health of the structure as well as for maintaining compliance with property maintenance codes regardless of any rental or other agreement purporting to give tenants or other third parties certain duties or responsibilities (Chapter 10 § 25-12-213).
The Code Compliance team at the Development Services Department (DSD) works with tenants, property representatives, and landlords to make sure rental homes are up to code.
Search before you rent
Search if there's repeated code history: If a rental property has a repeated history of unaddressed code violations, it could qualify to be listed in the Repeat Offender Program. Once a property is required to register, that property will begin to receive periodic inspections. These inspections may occur once a year.
Considering renting a property? Search the Repeat Offender Program database before you sign a lease!
You can also visit Citizen Connect to search for code complaints by address, case number or various region filters. Citizen Connect reveals properties that have had code complaints or violations even if they are not registered with the Repeat Offender Program. Learn more about how to use Citizen Connect at www.austintexas.gov/department/citizen-connect or watch the video below.
In addition, you may find it helpful to search the internet for reviews of rental properties before signing a lease.
If you have questions about how to use Citizen Connect any other Code questions,
email DSDCodeConnect@austintexas.gov or call (512) 974-2633.