Brooklyn Center Postpones Tenant Protection Ordinance Vote Until 2022

Brooklyn Center is considering strengthening its tenant protection ordinance, which would include landowners providing a 30-day written notice prior to filing for eviction. The ordinance also outlines reasons for just-cause eviction, which includes nonpayment and noncompliance to the lease.

The city adopted a tenant protection ordinance in Dec. 2018 that required three months advance notice of eviction and relocation assistance.

Several people spoke for and against the measure at Monday’s city council meeting.

“These nonrenewals have been especially devastating in the pandemic,” said Fadumo Mohamed, who identified herself as a housing organizer.

Her sentiments were echoed by many in the meeting, who spoke of frequent rent increases and unjust evictions.

While the city said they’d connected with several tenants and advocacy groups for input on the ordinance, landlords and rental property owners on the call said they had not been included.

Bob Gardner, who owns and operates rental property in Brooklyn Center, says just cause is often impossible to prove and enforce. He cited examples like a tenant who stopped paying for trash service and kept six months of trash in the garage, causing a mice infestation. Another example he gave was a tenant with a problematic boyfriend who might come over intoxicated and smash up windows.

“I’m here to ask you to vote no,” said Gardner. “I think this ordinance creates some major loopholes for the really bad actors that would make communities worse off.”

Council member Dan Ryan expressed concerns that many resident complaints came from the same properties and wondered why the city couldn’t do something in regards to the property owners’ rental license.

Even though it was the second reading of this ordinance, the vote was postponed to early 2022 so the city could connect with property owners and examine unintended consequences before moving forward.

See also: Brooklyn Center Gives Initial OK to Tenant Protection Ordinance

Brooklyn Center