Richmond rental inspection program faces further delays as city council requests revisions

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond’s long-debated rental inspection program is once again at a standstill after city councilmembers raised concerns about key aspects of the ordinance during a recent meeting.

The proposed program, introduced in 2023, aims to ensure that landlords maintain safe and sanitary housing conditions for tenants. It would also designate certain deteriorating neighborhoods as “rental inspection districts,” allowing for more proactive enforcement of housing codes.

However, during the latest city council meeting, councilmembers signaled that more changes are needed before they are ready to move forward.

“One of the criteria for selecting the rental inspection districts was the frequency of calls from public safety officers,” said councilwoman Stephanie Lynch.

She and others expressed concern about distinguishing between emergency calls and RVA 311 maintenance requests being key to prevent unintended consequences.

Councilmembers also pushed for additional protections for renters who are behind on payments, suggesting that services shouldn't be withheld due to rent delinquency.

Lynch emphasized the importance of a more proactive system that reduces the burden on tenants to self-report issues, which can sometimes lead to retaliation or threats of eviction.

Some Richmond residents voiced frustration about ongoing issues with property maintenance and lack of accountability from landlords.

“We don't feel safe,” one resident said. “It doesn't matter how long we call for maintenance reports. Maintenance can take a year or longer, and they still don’t come to us.”

Another resident noted that the current building code does little to hold landlords accountable.

“The way the building code is written right now does not actually hold many property owners accountable,” they said.

The council is expected to revisit the ordinance and proposed revisions during its next meeting in September.