If Houston is like Phoenix I know A/C was considered a critical need, health and safety I think was the terms they used.

If it is a safety issue, you probably don't have a choice.

I believe @Michael Plaks is based out of Houston and is very active on the forum with answering/helping with tax questions.For CPAs, I'd recommend prioritizing someone who is an expert in real estate over someone local (and if you find one that's both- great!).

Fortunately, I have a natural tendency to do the right thing and in a timely manner so his complaints to have "safety" issues addressed are not too much of an inconvenience for me (although the renter himself is an annoyance). 

If you can’t save money then either you need to really look at your budget and how you are prioritizing your money or increase your income.

I've got my day job to roll the dice, im in REI for the "safety".

The kind I do not like are passed on from their parents who never learned to work so they expect you take care of them.There are some restrictions and annual inspection most have to do with safety(railing), smoke alarms, and sanitation....

I also think this got me prioritized when bringing up repair issues.

Even the lowest priced house still needs to offer any future resident safety and this area can lead to various very undesirable legal liabilities for the owner/seller.

THe tenants admitted disposing paper towels into the toilet when cleaning 2 days prior. It