Brooklyn Center Makes Changes to Tenant Protection Ordinance
Brooklyn Center continues to wrestle over a tenant protection ordinance.
This week, the council passed two changes to the ordinance. One would require a 30-day pre-eviction notice. Another would remove the 90-day notice of nonrenewal without cause.
This is a change from the previous proposed amendment, which included reducing the eviction notice from 30 days to 14 days, which matches the ordinance in Minneapolis. Mayor Mike Elliott called the 14-day notice “inhumane.”
Nearly 40 percent of all housing stock in Brooklyn Center is rental housing and city documents say nearly all of it is considered naturally occurring affordable housing. The ordinance has been a controversial one for both tenants and landlords. Tenants say the ordinance doesn’t provide enough protection, while landlords say the ordinance creates loopholes that will not allow them to evict “bad actors.”
Community Development Director Meg Beekman explained the crux of the debate to council members and meeting participants.
“There are problem tenants, but it’s hard to document why they are a problem. So, the ability to nonrenew without cause is an important tool for a property manager,” explained Beekman. “Housing advocates, on the other hand, believe it’s really important that landlords not be allowed to nonrenew for arbitrary reasons.”
Those who voted against the changes said they were afraid the nonrenewal without cause would lead to more evictions and make it tougher for some people to find housing.
To see the entire meeting agenda or to watch the meeting, click here.
