Reservoir Hill Improvement Council


Tenant Organizing Initiative

BUILDING A VOICE FOR RESERVOIR HILL RENTERS

RHIC believes that strong, trained, democratically led tenant associations, with members who share the same values and leadership skills are crucial to healthy neighborhoods. In total, 60% of Reservoir Hill residents live in rental property. The neighborhood includes tenants from different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, age groups, and levels of physical ability, and everyone has a voice that must be heard.  Too often tenants are fearful of the retaliation that may occur if they speak up about conditions at their place of residence. With the goal of fostering a strong, organized, and effective tenant voice in the community, RHIC staff is currently working with neighbors at Madison Park North Apartments, Lakeview Towers, and Renaissance at Reservoir Hill to:

• Form and maintain tenant associations that educate tenants about their rights and can address quality of life issues such as, health, safety, and general maintenance and upkeep in their residences
• Increase tenant involvement in community events, activities, and projects
• Engage tenants in city and state-wide campaigns and initiatives that strengthen and improve the rights and power of tenants

Success

In early 2007, RHIC joined with neighborhood tenants and the Rental Housing Coalition to advocate for tenants rights and cleaner neighborhoods in support of the Clean Streets Bill.  As a result of the Coalition’s diligent work, the bill was passed unanimously in August and has been in effect since October 1, 2007.  In addition to establishing more equitable procedures for tenant eviction, the new law prohibits landlords from dumping an evicted tenant’s possessions onto the sidewalk, street, alley, or any other public right-of-way.  A landlord that fails to comply with this ordinance can be charged with a criminal misdemeanor and a $1,000 fine.

New tenant associations are now forming at Madison Park North Apartments and at Renaissance at Reservoir Hill.

Future Plans

In October 2007, RHIC staff began working with the Rental Housing Coalition to initiate landlord retaliation reform. The goal of this campaign is passage of the Stop Retaliation Bill, which will be introduced in the 2008 session of the Maryland General Assembly.  Currently, Maryland’s law on retaliation is the most restrictive, regressive law in the country.  As a result, tenants are often fearful about making complaints against the landlord for substandard living conditions or joining a tenants’ organization. The new bill will give tenants the necessary protection to report substandard building conditions and activities that compromise health and safety.

Tenant Organizing Initiative
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