MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a city where more than half the people are renters, the issue of absentee landlords continues to be a huge source of frustration for tenants in Memphis.
And in Nashville on March 12, a bill that could have helped hold landlords more accountable failed in a House Committee.
HB1814/SB1694 would have required residential landlords to pay $10 a year to register with Shelby County so they could quickly resolve code violations and other issues.
District 12 Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon and the City of Memphis Director of Code Enforcement Robert Knecht testified in support of the bill. They said it would help enhance property maintenance and reduce blight by giving them an easier way to track down out-of-state landlords.
"They're all over the world, and you try to locate somebody and get timely response. This is all about getting a timely response from an owner so they will fix the problem,” said Knecht.
During the winter, Vicki Murdock had issues involving heating at her rental home. She said it was difficult contacting her out-of-state landlord about the issue and believes a rental registry could have made that process easier.
"It gets tedious for the renter because the renter is the one paying for living the way they're living. So, I feel like in turn it should be a fairness,” said Murdock.
Another renter in Memphis, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of eviction, said Revid Property Management is unresponsive to her issues, including mold, faulty wiring and a leaky roof.
"One person finally answered and said, 'If you don’t stop calling, we’re going to call the police for harassment,'" the renter said.
Opponents of the bill, like Memphis Real estate broker Pablo Barrera, described it as a form of over-regulation.
District 62 Tennessee Representative Pat Marsh criticized how the program would work.
"How are you going to find them to make them fill out the paperwork and pay the $10? Looks like to me the good people will do it, but the bad people aren't going to change,” said Rep. Marsh.
Under current state law, Nashville-Davidson County is the only place in Tennessee with a rental registry.