The longer it takes to resolve complaints involving unsafe or deteriorating conditions, the greater likelihood Albuquerque’s renters will experience health issues or displacement. Officials say it’s a circumstance that often drains time and money from both tenants and the city. Such complaints include plumbing issues (no running water, no hot water), pest infestations and inadequate heating and cooling.
City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn says city code enforcement hasn’t sufficiently kept up with the complaints. Under her newly proposed legislation, code enforcement (part of the Planning Department) would be required to give urgent issues a higher priority and fund a dedicated full-time employee to spearhead the effort. The code enforcement officer would be trained to address tenant complaints related to rental units that are unsafe and/or do not meet habitability requirements, including complex cases involving landlords and apartment complexes.
“One of the things that we’ve heard over and over again from folks in the community is that they have really bad things like no air conditioning, no heating, no running water, and that this goes on for quite some time with some landlords,” Fiebelkorn said at a Finance & Government Operations Committee meeting Monday night.
City officials agree that what Fiebelkorn is proposing is needed.
“We strongly support the bill. Adding an additional code enforcement position to protect Albuquerque’s renters and tenants would be wonderful,” Planning Department Director Alan Varela, said in an email to City Desk ABQ.
If the measure is passed by the City Council and proves successful, there would be an option to add more staff for urgent tenant requests in the future.
“We’ve filled this room with folks sharing horror stories, so we’re supportive of this,” the city’s Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Sourisseau, said at the committee meeting, where it was approved on a 5-0 vote to be considered by the full City Council.
The measure is the latest effort related to tenant protections to be driven by Fiebelkorn. Late last year, councilors approved her bill that ensures tenants have cooling systems installed in apartments and living units. Fiebelkorn sponsored the bill because the city’s housing code required units to have heating but not cooling, which she said is a “basic human right,” especially with more instances of extreme temperatures.
Fiebelkorn is also a proponent of repealing the state’s prohibition on rent control. A bill to repeal the prohibition is currently making its way through the New Mexico Legislature.
Nonprofit journalism like this depends on readers like you. This story is supported by City Desk ABQ, a nonprofit newsroom project of Citizen Media Group supporting news and politics coverage that inspires readers to participate in local democracy. Become a supporter to keep City Desk free and support nonprofit, independent journalists covering politics and policy f0r New Mexico newsrooms.