Richmond tenants fighting for rental inspection program
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Virginia Organizing, a grassroots organization that empowers Virginians dealing with issues affecting their quality of life, held a press conference outside of Richmond City Hall. The purpose of the press conference was to highlight the concerns and experiences of tenants across Richmond, which Virginia Organizing and community partners have been working to get the city to address since 2022. In a November 2023 meeting, the Department of Planning and Development Review presented a proposal for a Residential Rental Inspection Program, which would establish rental inspection districts in the city to promote safe, decent and sanitary housing for renters as required by Virginia law. That same year, the council approved RES. No. 2023-R006, which requested that the city administration develop a plan for a rental inspection program. Since then, there has been no significant progress or transparency from city officials. Richmond City Councilmember Ann-Frances Lambert said the council submitted an ordinance to the mayor’s office in February 2023 to address blight. Lambert said his office hasn't moved forward with that ordinance, but it's an issue she said the council wants to address in 2025 after a new mayor is elected. “We definitely want to do something similar to what Henrico County has done,” Lambert said. This means the city would only designate particular buildings as slums that have housing problems instead of an entire district. Kim Taylor, a Richmond renter, said she can’t wait for landlords to address issues that have been festering for far too long. “My apartment has had many code violations, including holes in the ceilings, electrical sockets that are so bad that they have shocked me,” Taylor said. “Roof leaks, leaving bubbles in the ceiling, and so many others.” Marquetta Fisher, a renter advocate, said the clock is ticking. “When you have a house that has mold, roach infested [and] mice infested, you have to worry about your health, your child's health,” Fisher said. “If you are not healthy, then you can't work, you're constantly worrying. You should be able to go into your home and not have any worries.” For now, renters in Richmond can call 3-1-1 to reach code enforcement for housing complaints.
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Virginia Organizing, a grassroots organization that empowers Virginians dealing with issues affecting their quality of life, held a press conference outside of Richmond City Hall.
The purpose of the press conference was to highlight the concerns and experiences of tenants across Richmond, which Virginia Organizing and community partners have been working to get the city to address since 2022.
In a November 2023 meeting, the Department of Planning and Development Review presented a proposal for a Residential Rental Inspection Program, which would establish rental inspection districts in the city to promote safe, decent and sanitary housing for renters as required by Virginia law.
That same year, the council approved RES. No. 2023-R006, which requested that the city administration develop a plan for a rental inspection program. Since then, there has been no significant progress or transparency from city officials.
Richmond City Councilmember Ann-Frances Lambert said the council submitted an ordinance to the mayor’s office in February 2023 to address blight. Lambert said his office hasn't moved forward with that ordinance, but it's an issue she said the council wants to address in 2025 after a new mayor is elected.
“We definitely want to do something similar to what Henrico County has done,” Lambert said.
This means the city would only designate particular buildings as slums that have housing problems instead of an entire district.
Kim Taylor, a Richmond renter, said she can’t wait for landlords to address issues that have been festering for far too long.
“My apartment has had many code violations, including holes in the ceilings, electrical sockets that are so bad that they have shocked me,” Taylor said. “Roof leaks, leaving bubbles in the ceiling, and so many others.”
Marquetta Fisher, a renter advocate, said the clock is ticking.
“When you have a house that has mold, roach infested [and] mice infested, you have to worry about your health, your child's health,” Fisher said. “If you are not healthy, then you can't work, you're constantly worrying. You should be able to go into your home and not have any worries.”
For now, renters in Richmond can call 3-1-1 to reach code enforcement for housing complaints.
