Houston’s housing problems aren’t limited to affordability and vulnerability to storms.
Early findings from the Kinder Institute’s ongoing Housing Quality Registry suggest unreliable heating and cooling, persistent pests and damaging leaks rank among the most common housing issues afflicting Houstonians.
The project, which aims to fill a gap in local knowledge about housing conditions, asks residents to detail the everyday features and frustrations of their homes. Preliminary results show that while most fixtures work as intended, many respondents face common issues that can impact pocketbooks, physical health and mental health.
The Kinder Institute continues to accept responses to the survey, which can be accessed here, from all Harris County residents.
“By better understanding the current housing quality challenges facing the Houston area, it will be possible to put into place programs aimed at improving the conditions of so many of our neighbors, helping them lead healthier lives and helping us all have better communities to call home,” Daniel Potter, director of the Kinder Institute’s Houston Population Research Center, wrote in an Urban Edge post.
The early findings draw from two data-collection efforts. One was a neighborhood-level survey fielded in April 2024, which focused on the Alief and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods. The second was an open survey available to any Houston-area resident from January through mid-March 2025.
Ultimately, 932 responses were included in the preliminary results, which were published in two reports Monday. While not statistically representative of the region, they provide a glimpse into the range of situations experienced by residents.
Thirty percent of respondents reported annual household incomes below $25,000, and 31% reported incomes between $25,000 and $49,999. The racial and ethnic composition of participants was 8% Asian, 31% Black, 33% Hispanic and 27% White, largely mirroring countywide demographics. About 39% of respondents were renters, which is slightly lower than the proportion of renters in Harris County overall (45%).
The following charts provide a small window into what life is like under the roofs of 900-plus Houston households.
Utilities run hot and cold
The standard features of most Houston homes work reliably. But some residents reported that they could use some tuneups.
In a region regularly faced with high temperatures, 19% of participants said their air conditioning does not keep their entire home cool enough. In colder weather, 12% said they lack a safe and reliable source of heat.
Seventeen percent said they cannot open and close their windows. Almost half said their home’s insulation was not adequate or that they were unsure of the condition.
Twelve percent reported issues with their sinks draining completely, and 25% said that not all of their electrical outlets are working.
Creeping environmental concerns
Uninvited occupants are a common nuisance in Houston homes.
More than half of respondents said cockroaches were at least a little bit of a problem in their homes, with 18% indicating they were a significant problem. About two-thirds of households earning less than $25,000 annually reported issues with cockroaches, compared to roughly one-third of those earning more than $100,000.
Ants and spiders were also commonly reported, affecting more than 4 in 10 households. Mice and rats were less common, but still represented a problem to 30% of survey participants.
Water and environmental issues with potentially harmful effects on health also stood out.
About 1 in 7 respondents said their homes had flooded since they moved in, with that rate rising to 1 in 5 for residents with a household income of less than $25,000. Half of respondents added that they’ve sustained water damage unrelated to flooding, while one-third reported air quality concerns such as mold or dust.
Safety dependent on circumstances
The majority of survey participants felt mostly or very safe in their homes, but responses varied along socioeconomic lines.
More than one-third of Hispanic residents said they felt somewhat safe or not safe at all, a noticeably higher share than among White residents, 14% of whom reported the same. Black and Asian respondents fell between those two groups.
Respondents earning less than $25,000 per year were the least likely to feel secure, with over 40% saying they were not safe at all or somewhat safe. Only 10% of residents making $100,000 or more reported similar concerns.
Residents in single-family homes, a townhome or duplex reported similarly high levels of safety. Apartment and condo residents had higher levels of concern, with 14% of residents reporting they did not feel safe at all.
Enthusiasm for affordability and surroundings
Despite their challenges and concerns, residents weighed in on what they valued most about their homes.
Affordability topped the list, as more than 40% said cost is a factor they appreciate.
Residents also valued location and connection, with one-quarter signaling they appreciate living close to their jobs or family members. Over 20% of respondents said they liked the character of their neighborhood.
Residents also praised the interior of their homes: 24% liked room size and nearly 20% approved of their home’s layout.
