Spiros Zorbalas, a notorious Minneapolis landlord, has landed himself back in the media spotlight recently. Fox 9 News and the Strib have both released stories covering the city’s passage of a license revocation on three of his many buildings. You can get Fox 9′s story here, and the more recent Star Tribune story here.
Minneapolis rental code requires that tenants vacate upon notice of the license revocation. While Zorbalas appeals the city’s revocation in court, his tenants wait out the decision in their problematic apartments, wondering if they will be evicted on a moment’s notice if the court upholds the city’s decision. Many tenants continue to live under these conditions because they don’t have the money to move or afford higher rents in safer buildings.
This leads one to question whether the city’s rental enforcement adequately protects tenants living in situations with drastic and ongoing repair needs. Is it fair to punish tenants who have been enduring substandard living conditions by showing them the door? Could more be done to enforce building repairs and upkeep before a building reaches a state that is unfit for occupancy? Is there a better way to punish the landlord, while ensuring needed maintenance gets done or the bills get paid?
What are your ideas for better renter protections? What would make you feel more empowered as a renter?
