Heather K Way in the Media

Houston Chronicle September 24, 2024

Invitation Homes, landlord to 2,000+ homes in Houston area, agrees to $48M settlement from FTC

Professor Heather Way and the Housing Policy Clinic's January 2024 report, "Combatting Junk Fees in Texas Rental Housing," was referenced in an article about corporate landlord Invitation Homes' settlement for participating in unlawful practices including hidden fees.

KXAN April 24, 2024

Junk fees growing in Texas apartments, according to recent study

Clinical Professor Heather Way comments on the growing issue of junk fees in Texas apartments, discussing the alarming effects it is having on housing affordability.

San Antonio Express News April 23, 2024

Report: Rising number of ‘junk fees’ burden Texas renters

Clinical Professor Heather Way explains that Texas tenants often don't discover hidden fees until it's too late; Way suggests that renters ask landlords directly about any mandatory fees in writing.

San Antonio Express-News April 23, 2024

Report: Rising number of ‘junk fees’ burden Texas renters

Clinical Professor Heather Way sheds light on the lack of transparency from landlords when it comes to hidden junk fees in rental housing. A January 2024 report by Way and three students in the Housing Policy Clinic also was referenced.

ProPublica April 23, 2024

New Legislation Would Expand Access to Disaster Relief, Provide Help With Titles for Large Number of Black Landowners

Clinical Professor Heather Way comments on a new legislative package that aims to provide support and funding for heirs’ property owners.

KERA News April 15, 2024

Report: ‘Junk fees’ add a hidden burden to Texas tenants already struggling with high rents

Clinical Professor Heather Way speaks on the Housing Policy Clinic's new report, which focuses on how "junk fees"–added fees that tenants pay for mandatory services–have contributed to rising rent costs and a lack of affordable housing.

Texas Standard April 12, 2024

How many landlords pad rent with ‘junk fees,’ and what can be done

Clinical Professor Heather Way is interviewed about the Housing Policy Clinic's new report, "Combating Junk Fees in Texas Rental Housing: A Pathway to Fairer and More Transparent Leasing Practices."

Texas Monthly April 4, 2024

Exclusive: How a Right-wing Texas Think Tank Ducked Its Property Taxes

Clinical Professor Heather Way discusses the controversy surrounding the Texas Public Policy Foundation's qualification for property tax exemption.

UTSA professors’ research explores bias in housing demolitions and code enforcement

Research by Professor Heather Way that outlines the rates at which homes are vacated and demolished in San Antonio relative to other large Texas cities is referenced in a story about professors at UTSA developing a method to help reduce demolitions and assess bias within code enforcement.

Houston Chronicle March 21, 2024

New Houston Housing Authority board votes to increase loans for tax break deals

Professor Heather Way discusses how Section 392 tax break deals have increased since state legislators passed a reform bill targeting PFC (public facility corporation) deals, noting that the Houston Housing Authority is particularly capitalizing on the program.

Houston Chronicle December 22, 2023

Texas lawmakers tried to stop a tiny government from arranging big tax breaks. It hasn’t worked.

Professor Heather Way comments on the challenges Texas policymakers face in balancing public perks for developers with meaningful affordable housing concessions.

Houston Chronicle November 1, 2023

Houston Housing Authority eschews controversial PFC tax breaks, uses very similar tax break instead

Clinical Professor Heather Way laments that the Houston Housing Authority bypassed recent reforms to the Public Facility Corporation tax break law.