The City may be forced to turn off the water to the Lakeview Apartments, 1200 Northwood, on September 25, due to non-payment of its utility bills. Currently, the Lakeview Apartments owes the City $61,902.53 in past due utility bills.
City ordinances allow the City to turn off utility service to a customer after providing notice to the customer. If the customer is a landlord (such as an apartment owner) then the City also is required to attempt to notify the tenants of the landlord.
The City gave notice that the utility bill was delinquent to the leasing agent for the Lakeview Apartments on September 4, 2007. On September 10, the leasing agent asked to pay $15,000 of the $31,614.15 passed due by September 14, and the remainder the week of September 17-21. The City agreed to the $15,000 by September 14, with the remainder $16,614.15 to be paid by or on September 19. If the amounts were not paid, the City informed the leasing agent that door hangars would be placed on the tenants’ apartments to notify the tenants that the City would cut off the water service on September 25, due to non-payment of the utility bill by the owners or leasing agents of Lakeview Apartments. Emails were sent to the leasing agent on September 18 and 19, informing her that the agreed upon payments were not received. Because the payments were not received, door hangars were placed on tenants’ apartments on September 20. Lakeview’s current bills (less sewer leak adjustment) of $26,215.73 due September 12, were not paid and are now delinquent. Late charges totaling $4,072.65 were assessed September 13. Total amount delinquent and due by September 25, 2007 amount to $61,902.53.
If the owners or leasing agent for Lakeview Apartments pay the delinquent utility bills in full before September 25, then water service will not be disconnected. Should the City disconnect the water service on September 25, due to non-payment by the owners or leasing agents, the water service will not be restored until payment of delinquent amounts is paid in full.
Should the water be turned off, the apartments will no longer be habitable. Tenants who are displaced by the disconnection of water service may possibly receive help in finding another residence by contacting any of the following agencies:
Bay City Village Apartments
Baytown Housing Authority
Associated Catholic Charities (Guadalupe Social Services)
Houston Housing Authority
Pasadena Housing Authority
Bay Area Homeless Services
Texas Department of Human Services
Harris County Community Development/Social Services