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🛠️ How Small Towns Can Tackle Slumlords—and Reclaim Their Neighborhoods

Erika Willitzer
Jul 11
2 min read

Slumlords—property owners who neglect maintenance while collecting rent—can drain the vitality from small towns. Their buildings often become safety hazards, eyesores, and economic dead zones. But small towns aren’t powerless. With the right mix of policy, community action, and legal tools, they can hold slumlords accountable and restore dignity to their neighborhoods.

🧩 Understand the Problem

Slumlords thrive in places with:

Weak code enforcement
Limited tenant protections
Low public awareness of housing rights
High demand for affordable housing

They often own multiple properties, delay repairs, and exploit vulnerable tenants. The goal isn’t just to punish them—it’s to restore safe, livable housing and revitalize neglected areas.

🛡️ Practical Strategies for Small Towns

1. Strengthen Code Enforcement

Hire or train local inspectors to regularly assess rental properties.
Use digital tools to track violations and follow up consistently.
Partner with regional agencies if staffing is limited.

2. Adopt Receivership Laws

Allow courts to appoint independent receivers to repair neglected properties.
Buffalo, NY is exploring this approach to bypass absentee landlords.
Receivers can stabilize buildings and recover costs through rent or sale.

3. Create a Rental Registry

Require landlords to register properties and disclose ownership.
Track repeat offenders and prioritize inspections.
Transparency helps communities identify problem landlords.

4. Leverage Preservation Funds

Use grants to stabilize historic or neglected buildings.
Buffalo’s Historic Preservation Fund has helped small developers rehab slum properties.
Preservation isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about saving walkable, tax-generating neighborhoods.

5. Empower Tenants

Support tenant unions or advocacy groups.
Educate renters on their rights and how to report violations.
Provide legal aid or mediation services for disputes.

6. Use Public Pressure

Spotlight slumlords in local media or town meetings.
Celebrate responsible landlords to set a positive example.
Public accountability can motivate change faster than fines alone.

🌱 Long-Term Vision

Stopping slumlords isn’t just about enforcement—it’s about building capacity for small-scale development, preserving historic neighborhoods, and creating housing that works for everyone.