Richmond City Council takes action on affordable housing, rental inspection program

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond City Council approved several ordinances in an effort to improve affordable and safe housing for residents during a meeting on Monday.

“We have established shared priorities around quality affordable housing and Richmond City Council, the Mayor, residents, and all our community partners are collaboratively working with greater effort to create and increase opportunities to help move us closer to fuller access and inclusion for all Richmond residents,” said Council President Cynthia I. Newbille.

Affordable housing funding

In one ordinance approved on Monday, Nov. 10, the council approved the transfer of $2 million from the "Richmond Delinquent Tax Sales" special fund to go toward the "Richmond Affordable Housing Trust Fund" -- supporting mixed-income development, rehabilitating blighted properties and advancing housing stability.

The council also authorized a grant agreement to support Bellevue Gardens -- a 78-unit affordable housing development at 3940 Rosedale Avenue. According to a release from Mayor Danny Avula -- the patron of the ordinance -- the project will include 42 homes for residents earning 0-50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and 36 homes for those at 50-80% AMI, with completion expected in 2026.

“This investment represents the heart of what it means to build a thriving city,” Avula said. “Every dollar we put toward affordable housing is a commitment to stability, opportunity, and equity for Richmond families.”

Protecting renters through inspection

Another ordinance approved by the council will establish a Residential Rental Inspection Program in an effort to promote safe and healthy housing conditions. The program will inspect residential rental dwelling units to make sure they are safe, decent, sanitary and compliant with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

According to a release from the mayor's office, the administration will use the next six months to "create the policies, procedures and process by which tenants, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens may request a specific parcel or parcels be designated as a Rental Inspection District because rental dwelling units are either blighted, or in the process of deterioration, or in need of inspection by the Building Commissioner to prevent deterioration."

Creating each Rental Inspection District will require separate Council approvals after a review of factors such as building code, health violations, public safety responses or tenant petitions.

“Safe housing is healthy housing,” Avula said. “This ordinance creates a pathway to ensure that Richmond renters live in homes that meet basic standards of safety and dignity. I look forward to working with CAO Donald and the rest of the team to build a fair, transparent process that protects tenants, supports responsible landlords, and strengthens neighborhoods.”