Assembly Approves Ordinance Strengthening Tenant Protections

During Tuesday night's Regular Meeting, the Assembly approved (10-1) AO 2025-93(S), establishing clearer procedures for notice-to-vacate cases and requiring relocation assistance for tenants displaced due to unsafe housing conditions. The ordinance applies when residential units are deemed uninhabitable by code enforcement officials due to life-safety issues. Through this measure, Assembly sponsors Erin Baldwin Day and Zac Johnson aim to ensure tenants have resources to relocate quickly when units become unsafe due to severe neglect, while strengthening municipal enforcement tools that hold property owners accountable for maintaining livable dwellings.By requiring relocation assistance and clarifying enforcement authority, the ordinance promotes housing stability and discourages neglect of critical repairs."This ordinance is narrowly targeted to the most urgent scenario: when housing conditions are so dangerous that a notice to vacate becomes necessary," said Assembly Member Zac Johnson, co-sponsor of the ordinance. "It does not replace the routine code-enforcement process for fixing lesser violations. Rather, it strengthens the framework for the extreme cases."Code Enforcement reports that Anchorage's older buildings make up a growing share of severe violation cases, underscoring the need for proactive maintenance and clear safety standards."As our housing stock ages, problems from neglect grow more severe," said Assembly Member Erin Baldwin Day, co-sponsor of the ordinance. "This ordinance ensures no tenant is left stranded in unsafe conditions. It's about fairness - protecting responsible landlords while holding negligent ones accountable. Most landlords will never face a notice to vacate, but for the few who repeatedly disregard safety, this measure makes clear that the Municipality will act."Under the new law, when a notice to vacate is issued due to a property owner's failure to resolve health and safety code violations under AMC 15.10, the owner must provide displaced tenants with twice their monthly rent in addition to refunding any deposits or prepaid rent within seven days of the order. If owners fail to comply, the Municipality may advance relocation costs from a dedicated fund and may seek to recover the expense through the courts, adding daily penalties after 60 days.In the most severe cases of deliberate neglect, inspectors may also refer landlords to the Municipal Prosecutor for potential criminal charges when they repeatedly force tenants to live in unsafe conditions in violation of an order to repair or vacate. Residents can report unsafe conditions confidentially through Municipal Code Enforcement by phone at 907-343-4141 or online at #ANCWorks/Service Request.For more information on the Assembly's Housing Action work, visit the webpage at: https://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Pages/FOCUS-Housing.aspx.

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​CONTACT

​Erin Baldwin DayDistrict 4, Midtown [email protected] JohnsonDistrict 5, South Anchorage, Girdwood, Turnagain [email protected]