Tell Asheville City Council: No Rent for Slumlords

The “No Rent for Slumlords” ordinance (proposed as an amendment to Chapter 4 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances by adding Section 4-209(c)) makes it completely illegal for landlords to collect rent or lease a property if it has conditions that make it unfit for human occupancy or a threat to life and safety.

Currently, tenants often have to wait through long bureaucratic processes for a code enforcement officer to officially declare a unit uninhabitable. NR4S introduces a “point in time” provision. As soon as a life-safety violation is present—such as severe mold, untreated water damage, or unsafe electrical systems—it becomes illegal to collect rent. Most importantly, it gives tenants a private right of action, allowing them to take slumlords to court independently and potentially win up to three times their rent back.

Asheville needs a strong, coordinated push to ensure the ordinance gets officially placed on the agenda and passed without delays.

Send your message here. 

Sponsored by the North Carolina Tenants Union.