Residents of the Westbury Reserve Apartments in southwest Houston are finally seeing some relief after weeks of dealing with the stench of uncollected garbage, no hot water and no air conditioning.
"I can’t open my window. I come out here every day, especially with that rain. You know how that smells,” resident Bernard Joseph told Fox 26. “They ain’t dumped the trash in two months."
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But that wasn’t the only concern. Tenants said squatters were breaking into vacant units, sewage was backing up into buildings and basic maintenance was nonexistent. Some residents said the issues have been occurring since Christmas.
After weeks of pressure and nearly 30 health department violations, the property owner stepped in with promises of cleanup and change. But how it got this bad is a tangled story.
‘The buck stops with me’
Robert Ritzenhaler, owner of Westbury Reserve and CEO of REM Capital, blamed the severe neglect on AMC Management, the third-party property management company he hired.
"At the end of the day, the buck stops with me, as one of the owners of the property,” he told Fox 26. “That doesn’t mean there isn’t a story behind it, of course.”
Ritzenhaler said he was shocked to learn a $10,000 trash bill had not been paid, despite more than $366,000 reportedly sitting in the property’s account. According to him, AMC requested approval to pay the trash bill only a month ago. He signed off, but said AMC’s payment process caused a delay.
“I shouldn’t have to approve a trash bill,” Ritzenhaler said. “The contract specifically states that they will take care of managing the property and keeping it habitable.”
AMC Management disputed that version of events. In a statement to FOX 26, the company said, “AMC never sought permission to pay trash collection bills … nor was it required to under the property management agreement."
Instead, AMC claims REM Capital failed to provide funds to pay contractors and even fell behind on payroll and management fees. AMC sent a termination letter, which took effect May 1.
Ritzenhaler has since dispatched a new team member to oversee a full-scale cleanup and repairs effort. Top priorities included clearing trash piles, boarding up broken windows, resolving sewage backups, restoring hot water and tackling pest problems.
He’s also working to fix or replace broken gates, potholes and expired fire extinguishers. The pool area — described by the fire marshal as “unacceptable” — must also be brought back to code.
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What to do if you’re caught in the middle
Tenants at Westbury Reserve say they were left in the dark for months, unsure who was responsible and with no clear way to get help. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, here are some steps that can help:
Document everything
Take photos and videos of the conditions in your unit and around the property. Keep records of rent payments, maintenance requests and any communication with management.
Contact property management and owners
Make sure the property managers understand the extent of the issues. If they aren’t responding, try reaching out to the property owner directly. Public property records or business filings can help you track them down.
File complaints with authorities
You can file complaints with housing authorities, the health department and sanitation services. In Houston, this includes Solid Waste Management and the Department of Neighborhoods.
Seek legal aid
Nonprofits like Lone Star Legal Aid in Texas offer free or low-cost legal help if you believe your rights as a tenant are being violated.
Finally, consider contacting local media. Residents at Westbury Reserve only got results after a news station picked up their story. Sometimes, public pressure is the only way to spark action.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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