Skip to main content

  • Comment Detail

  • Date: 07/28/23
    First Name: Nakia
    Last Name: Stephens
    Email: nakia.stephens@moveon.org
    Organization Type: other
    Organization: MoveOn

  • Comment

    Thank you for this opportunity to respond to this Request for Input. We, the undersigned people who are tenants, home owners in solidarity with renters, and small landlords in solidarity with renters write to recommend that you include tenant protections as a condition of issuing federally backed mortgages in multifamily rental units. We are extremely concerned about the lack of quality, safe and affordable housing in the U.S. and recent rent gouging that has been occurring in many instances.

    We need to protect tenants from and limit egregious rent hikes.

    Good cause eviction: Prohibit evictions without good cause, ensuring every tenant has the right to a lease renewal. Good cause is defined as serious and repeated lease violations provable in a court of law.

    Ban source of income discrimination: Prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants based on their source of income including federal housing assistance (i.e., vouchers).

    Freedom from discrimination: Enforce existing laws that prohibit landlords from denying a tenant rental housing based on race, physical or mental ability, and family make-up, and expand protections to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, immigration status, conviction and/or arrest history, bankruptcy history, eviction history, or credit score.

    Safe, quality housing standards: Require all landlords to keep their properties in good condition. No renter should have to live in housing conditions that put their health and safety at risk.

    Landlord registry: Tenants should have access to information about their landlord including their name and phone number.
    Tenant right to organize: Tenants have the right to form tenants’ unions or resident councils free from fear of retaliation from the landlord or managing agent. Ownership and management representatives must not interfere with the creation or actions of tenant organizations.

    Fair leases: Landlords must use standardized and clearly defined leases free of abusive terms.

    Office of Tenant Protections: A team charged with protecting tenants and enforcing their rights in properties with federally backed mortgages.