Albuquerque RENT Ordinance fails in committee after landlord pushback

An Albuquerque City Council committee on Wednesday voted down a proposed set of regulations intended to increase the power of renters and comprehensively regulate landlords after the latter expressed concern that the bill was an overreach and would negatively affect the rental market.

The bill died after 3-2 vote in the Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee. But Shanna Schultz, policy and government affairs administrator for the city, who wrote the bill on behalf of Mayor Tim Keller, left open the possibility of another similar bill in the future.

“I understand the intent of this bill. But I also think there are a lot of unintended consequences,” said Councilor Renée Grout.

In its original form, the Renter’s Empowerment and Neighborhood Transparency (RENT) Ordinance would’ve affected almost every element of the renting experience, from signing a lease to evictions and deposits.

The RENT Ordinance sought to give renters more power over their landlords, according to Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, who sponsored the bill on behalf of the mayor’s office.

The measure, styled as a “Renters Bill of Rights,” comes as the council has required landlords to provide cooling to tenants and created a code enforcement position dedicated to tenant-landlord issues. It also comes as the city faces an escalating housing crisis.

Some of the bill’s most notable changes aimed to enhance transparency.

The RENT Ordinance would’ve required landlords to disclose all costs associated with a rental agreement in clear, straightforward language in their published listings. This included any information from a background check that might disqualify an applicant, as well as minimum credit score and income requirements.

Another notable part of the RENT Ordinance would have eliminated pet rent. Landlords could accept a pet deposit of up to $150.

The RENT Ordinance drew support from some renters and housing advocates, including OLÉ New Mexico. They said the ordinance would hold bad landlords accountable and improve the living conditions of renters, who make up about 44% of Albuquerque residents, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

The bill also drew concern from landlords, some realtors, and property management companies. They argued the ordinance infringed on property rights, increased their liability since tenants could deduct repair costs from rent payments in some instances, and would lead to higher rents.

Ultimately, Fiebelkorn was joined by Councilor Nichole Rogers in trying to keep the bill alive. Councilors Dan Champine and Brook Bassan joined Grout in voting to end the bill.