Healthy Housing and Fair

Apartment owners have a duty to maintain habitable units. Under sections 341.011 and 341.012 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, bedbugs are considered a public health nuisance, and individuals in possession of real property must remove a public health nuisance “as soon as the person knows that the nuisance exists.” Anyone who has worked in multifamily housing has dealt with bedbugs and the hardships that they come with.

The data shows the apartment industry needs employees. It’s time apartment owners and managers embrace transferable skills. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unemployment rate in the Houston area of 3.6% in December 2019. The apartment industry can do its part to boost the Houston employment rate by considering candidates who lack direct multifamily experience but who have strong applicable skills. Really, promoting RPM Careers

Those tiny, blood-sucking parasites can be a nightmare and they can drive a wedge between you and your residents. When dealing with a bedbug infestation, property managers, residents and pest management professionals (PMPs) all share a feeling of frustration and each party plays defense.

When you’re faced with an infestation, the most powerful tool against crawling pests is communication. Communication between residents and property managers, between property managers and PMPs, between PMPs and the maintenance team. Sincere, professional, empathetic communication between all parties can alleviate frustration and embarrassment.

When bedbugs are found in a unit, each party partakes in finger pointing. This is because bedbugs don’t crawl in through a window or up a drain, they are a parasite that enter via someone’s belongings. With residents coming and going in apartments, it’s sometimes hard to find the blame. Your resident with the bedbug problem could blame their neighbor or the previous resident, and they might be correct. You theorize the bedbugs came in via the resident’s queen mattress that looks like it was bought from a thrift store, and that is equally proba

How to kill bedbugs and other pests with kindness and professionalism. By NICHOLAS NUNNERY, Preventative Pest Control

ble. The hard truth is that either explanation would be extremely difficult to prove in a court of law. A good PMP can ask questions, perform an inspection and put together a treatment plan, but he or she cannot perform forensics to find the absolute origin of the infestation. Plus, an honest PMP would know better than to make a claim.

So, you’ve got an infested unit that could potentially infest other units and you could pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in treatment costs. Your resident is equally stressed. They have to sleep with the pain and irritation of bites. They feel angry at what they perceive to be your inaction. They feel judged and attacked by questions.

It’s best to deal with bedbugs at the very beginning of a resident’s lease by executing a bedbug addendum along with a lease. Bedbug addendums hold both the property owner or property manager and the resident accountable for inspecting the unit and timely reporting of any signs of a possible infestation. The Texas Apartment Association lease requires reporting of health hazards by residents, and compliance with safety standards by property managers. The TAA bedbug addendum requires residents to inspect and disclose if they previously lived in a location that had bedbugs, while detailing the reporting requirements and payment responsibilities in the event of an infestation. Including a bedbug addendum can help alleviate the issue right at move-in. If a bedbug addendum is not included and the issue is not resolved at move-in, tension could create a lack of trust from your resident and a great deal of frustration among your staff.

In addition, if you have a stubborn bedbug problem on-site, remedy each unit as they become vacant. This is when a thorough inspection and accurate communication are most powerful. When a unit is still vacant, A PMP can thoroughly inspect the unit and any remaining furniture or belongings left behind by the previous resident. If bedbugs are found during this inspection, he or she can perform a treatment at, likely, a lower cost and without any damage to your relationship with a future resident. If bedbugs are not found, your PMP can provide you with written, dated documentation that says no live bedbugs or evidence of bedbugs were found in areas accessible for inspection. This documentation can provide clarity should there be a future infestation. In these documents, your PMP should speak plainly and say nothing more or less than what they saw during the inspection.

Vacant unit inspections aren’t an airtight control method, they are however, a valuable tool. Communication is another valuable tool. Your job is to protect your resident from that which can harm them while protecting the integrity of your own brand. You can do this by not giving into the hysteria or emotion of the situation.

Bedbug Myths

Here are some myths about bedbugs that can help you remain calm in a bedbug situation. “They can go years in a vacant unit without a bloodmeal.” The reality is closer to months, not years. Some people will worry that they can catch a disease from bedbugs, but scientists have found no evidence of bedbugs spreading disease through bites. Staying informed on bedbugs and other pests will help you ease the your resident’s concerns and guide you in making sound decisions. If you want to stay informed, a good PMP is be a great resource.

German Cockroaches

In addition to bedbugs, an apartment owner and/or property manager has an obligation by law to maintain units free of any infestations of roaches, rats, termites and other pests.

German cockroaches are long, half an inch, tannish-brown invaders that lay 400 eggs in their lifetime, and they seem to dramatically lower the appeal of the apartment homes they infest. Like bedbugs, German cockroaches are a parasite that evolved to live off human scraps. You will not find them in the wild. They are mankind’s cockroach. Gag! When a resident has a German cockroaches infestation, it is natural to conjure up ideas of filth and mess, but, again, it is important to effectively communicate while avoiding the pitfall of the blame game.

/ See Pests, Page 73

Redbook Seminar Sponsored by CORT Furniture and The Liberty Group Thursday, February 13 at the HAF Education Center 1

Apartment personnel sharpened their knowledge of the newly-updated TAA Redbook with HAA General Counsel Howard Bookstaff.

HAA Volleyball Tournament Friday, March 6 at Houston Sportsplex

HAA members hit the courts bump, set and, spike with HAA! 1. First Place Team: La Salle Landscaping, champions for the fifth year running 2. Court Sponsor: Brandt Electrical A/C & Heating 3. Court Sponsor: Northwest Construction 4. Lunch Sponsor: HD Supply 5. Snack Sponsor: CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions 6. Second Place Team: Property Guardians 7. Third Place Team: Redi Carpet Sales of Houston. For more photos, visit www.haaonline.org.

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MEMBERSHIP: ENGAGE! Recruit for HAA and become part of the Go-Getter Club.

What is a Go-Getter? The Go-Getter Club is a year-round membership recruitment drive comprised of individual HAA members who work for owner/management and supplier companies.

Join our Quarterly Meetings! Be the top recruiter for each quarter and win $500 cash!

Plus, for each new member you recruit, you’ll earn a chance to win gift cards ranging from $25 to $250!

JOIN A TEAM and build relationships with like-minded members. Get involved with Go-Getters and make lasting industry connections.

Visit www.haaonline.org/gogetterscorner to get all the information you need.

Recruit all year long! Go-Getter meetings are quarterly: Thursday, July 9 Thursday, September 10 Thursday, December 10 All meetings start at 4 p.m. at Cadillac Bar & Grill. Visit www.haaonline.org/gogetters for details.

Claude Arnold Kenn Brown Tina Cavaco Terri Clifton Kevin Fenn Diane Gilbert Anita Harrison Dwayne Henson Mike Koch Merry Mount Monette Reynolds Sherry Stevenson Kirk Tate Suan Tinsley Sonny Unverzagt Del Walmsley Nancé Wells H.P. Paul Young Jeanne Marie Zublin Dicks HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS Members who have recruited more than 100 companies

THE GO-GETTERS ARE THE BACKBONE of the Houston Apartment Association. By recruiting new members, the Go-Getter Club helps both new management and supplier companies and the association grow for the future. To join the club and get going on recruitment, see online at www.haaonline.org or contact Amanda and Kaylon in the Membership Department at members@haaonline.org.

20330 Whitewood LLC Jack Franco P.O. Box 430 Kemah, TX 77565 310-245-8084 Park 45 Apartments

Aura Property Management LLC Mona Preston 16315 Mill Point Drive Houston, TX 77059 281-787-9278 1301 S Hood, LLC

Bayou City Group Michael Le 9659 N. Sam Houston Pkwy E. #150-154 Humble, TX 77396 713-568-6550

Branard Ivanhoe LLC Michele Navratil 2035 Milford St. Houston, TX 77098-5309 713-540-2288 Ivanhoe Apartments

Calidum LLC Daniel Mathieu 16606 Saint Johns Wood Drive Tomball, TX 77377 346-818-4850 Pontikes Development Nick Pontikes 11750 Katy Fwy #500 Houston, TX 77079 713-907-0128

SHJH Operations Steve Huckabay 415 S Cypress Estates Circle Spring, TX 77388 713-201-4848 Loop Crossing Apartments

Superior Plus Real Estate Group Inc Marco Quiroz 8450 Telegraph Road Downey, CA 90240 562-297-1707 Casa Cruz

The Vireo Apartments Jennifer L. Wagner 12212 Tidwell Road Houston, TX 77044 317-846-3111 The Vireo

TriPro Management Inc. David Schaper 717 Central Dr Port Neches, TX 77651 409-727-6221 Magnolia Grove Apartments SUPPLIERS

Elmington Property Management Keria Caldwell 118 16th Ave. S. #200 Nashville, TN 37203 615-288-8700 Matthew Ridge Del Sol Villas Villas on Winkler

FBWC-Rio Bend Dennis Dowell P.O. Box 183 Richmond, TX 77406 281-344-5750 FBWC-Rio Bend - Properties

Luxliving Management Alex Lu 10300 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77042 626-236-0911 Wyndham Garden at Willowbrook AM Conservation Group Michael O’Brien 18039 Holly Forest Drive Houston, TX 77084 281-686-2380 Energy Conservation/ Management, Lighting Fixtures & Supplies Referred by Donna Farthing

Boardwalk Floors Wayne Highfield 6001 Gardendale Drive Houston, TX 77092-7021 713-875-7722 Floor Materials, Floor Laying, Refinishing & Resurfacing Referred by Mike Koch

ALL SUPPLIER MEMBERS are listed online at haabuyersguide.com, searchable by product/service category or company name. Bug-N-Out Pest Control LLC Lynn Weems P.O. Box 1874 Deer Park, TX 77536 281-786-5939 Pest Control Services, Animal Removal Services

Competitive Choice Inc. Casey Williams 9303 Kirby Drive Houston, TX 77054 713-838-1144 Odor Control, Chemicals

Don’s Tree Service Jerald Garner 5806 Maple St. Houston, TX 77074 932-713-8805 Arborists, Tree Services Referred by Donna Farthing

Floodproofing.com Sean O’Leary 430 Andbro Dr. #1 Pitman, NJ 08071 800-507-0865 Building Materials, Disaster Preparedness Service, Waterproofing Supplies

Grace Hill Inc. Lynn McAuliffe 15 S. Main St. #500 Greenville, SC 29601 678-401-6653 Online Training - online university, Online Training - web-based courses

GTS Holdings LLC Kenrick Morgan 11200 Broadway St. #2743 Pearland, TX 77584 832-312-4562 Security Guard/ Patrol Service, Private Investigators Referred by Donna Farthing

Haidamous and Associates Elias Haidamous 17302 House Hahl Road #315 Cypress, TX 77433 281-306-6882 Consultants-Planning/ Economic, Tax Consultants-Ad Valorem JAK Environmental, LLC DBA: Legacy Power Washing & Graffiti Removal Adrien Kruger 7827 Harms Road Houston, TX 77041 281-806-6709 Pressure Washing - Equipment & Service, Fences Referred by Grace Prather

MTA Specialty Construction Services Michael Orlando 13002 Advance Drive Houston, TX 77065 832-309-5543 Construction MgmtConsultants, General Contractors

On-Site Propety Services Narciso Orellana 8190 Barker Cypress Road #1900-63 Cypress, TX 77433 281-935-2272 General Contractors, Painting Contractors, Trash Service - Valet Referred by Tiffany Scarlett

OnSight Industries Inc. Gene Sanderfield 900 Central Park Drive Sanford, FL 32771 407-830-8861 Mailboxes-Sales & Repair, Signs

Plantation Irrigation & Landscaping Jason Troth 3110 Golden Honey Lane Richmond, TX 77406 281-435-5408 Drainage Contractors, Irrigation Systems & Equipment, Landscape Contractors, Lawn Maintenance, Landscape - Lighting, Sprinklers - Garden & Lawn, Tree Services

Principle Inspections Emily Scheuring 19022 Old Mueschke Road Tomball, TX 77377 Building Inspection Service, Roofing Consultants Sendero Restoration Services dba Sendero Commercial Roofing Ned Vaughn Scott 5424 Katy Fwy #300 Houston, TX 77007 800-417-4908 General Contractors, Roofing Contractors

Soriano’s Painting & Remodeling Flor M. Villalobos 19823 Packwood Drive Katy, TX 77449 281-683-3412 Painting Contractors, Maid Services

T&L Distributing Stephen Bergman 7350 Langfield Road Houston, TX 77092 713-937-3723 Tile Dealers, Floor Materials Referred by Doug Oehl, CAS

VDP SouthWest Pool & Spa Services Vik Patel P.O. Box 17971 Sugar Land, TX 77496 832-660-5851 Swimming Pool Contractors, Swimming Pool Equipment & Supply, Swimming Pool Repair & Resurfacing, Swimming Pool Service & Maintenance, Pool Furniture - Repair & Restoration

Wickley Interactive Melinda Wickley 3200 Nacogdoches Road #102 San Antonio, TX 78217 210-663-6612 Marketing Consultants & Services, Website Design Referred by Liz Macias

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!” I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!” I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES The Ambassadors connect with members and the community by collecting bears for first responders.

Mark your calendars and join us! Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at Craft Republic, 11470 Westheimber:

April 1 meeting is canceled. Dates as of press time. Please check the calendar at www.haaonline.org for updates:

May 6 • June 3 • July 1 August 5 • September 2 October 7 • November 4

1. “ONE of the Month” Ashley Wiggins, Reliant, with 230 points.

Ambassador ONE Society members with at least 10 points, ranked by points earned: Giovanna Gone Century A/C Supply 295 Ashley Wiggin Reliant 230 Susan Alvarado Century A/C Supply 114 Janell Richter JMI Contractors 129 Shawnte Thomas Hoffer Furniture 58 Tracey Leach-Moore Flooring Warehouse 55 Darlene Addison McElvy Media Group 54 Samantha HernandezHouston Waste Services 41 Amanda Kelly Corinthian Construction 40 Deborah DeRouen Designs by Holmes Interior Design 21 Candis Mohr AAA Plumbers 20 Arely Pena The Liberty Group 10 Emily Viana ACE Parking Lot Maintenance 10 Tammy Broadway American Fire Systems, Inc. 10

Ambassadors earn points by sharing leads, making introductions and visiting communities to promote HAA events and news.

THE AMBASSADOR ONE SOCIETY is an organized network exchange that helps supplier partners build their business contacts within HAA. It’s the perfect way for new suppliers to get started with the association. Group members share leads, make introductions and support HAA and its members. For details on how to join and for meeting dates, visit www.haaonline.org/ambassadors or contact Amanda in the Membership Department at 713-595-0316, or email asherbondy@haaonline.org.