Protecting Tenant Rights

Landlords are required to offer their tenants decent and sanitary housing including adequate weatherproofing, heat, water and electricity, as well as clean, sanitary, and structurally safe premises. Unfortunately, building owners will often deliberately let their building fall into a state of disrepair. Frequently, they knowingly violate safety codes and render the building uninhabitable to encourage tenants to move out voluntarily (which enables the landlord to charge more rent) or accept money to move out so that the building can be converted into high-end condominiums.

LEDC helps tenants take the first step toward preserving affordability and preventing displacement by organizing tenant associations and negotiating with building owners and management for improved conditions. LEDC assists residents in asserting their rights to fair and decent housing. We provide technical assistance which helps residents work together in documenting and reporting code violations and talking with management. By helping tenants improve conditions, LEDC prevents building owners from using this strategy to displace residents and helps tenants retain their affordable housing.