Renters Deserve Safe Homes—Our City Can Make That Happen

We have been in a housing crisis for some time. While much of the conversation focuses on building new units, we’re quietly losing the most affordable housing we already have: existing rental homes that are falling into disrepair. As a policy researcher and a renter, I see this disconnect every day—between what our community needs and what our housing system delivers.

That’s why it’s time for our city to adopt a rental housing licensing program with habitability inspections. This is not a radical idea. It’s a practical, proven policy that protects tenants, ensures safe homes, and prevents neglect before it turns into displacement.

Here’s how it works: landlords register their rental units with the city, and those units are subject to periodic habitability inspections. If a home isn’t up to basic health and safety standards—mold, broken heaters, faulty wiring—the city can require repairs before the next tenant moves in. It’s simple, effective, and fair.

Right now, responsible landlords who maintain their properties are playing by the rules. But those who ignore basic maintenance face little to no consequences—and renters pay the price. Licensing and inspections level the playing field and promote fairness across the board.

This policy is already working in cities across the country. In Minneapolis, housing inspections led to major drops in severe violations. In Sacramento, over 70% of inspected units needed repairs, and those repairs got done. The results speak for themselves.

But this is more than just policy. It’s about dignity. Renters are often treated as invisible in local politics, even though we make up a significant portion of the population. We are workers, voters, parents, and neighbors. We deserve the same baseline protections as homeowners.

Safe housing shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be a standard.

This licensing program is how we get there.

#Housingcrisis

#housingcrisis

#housing-justice