St. Paul rental repair ordinance headed for November ballot

Organizers of a St. Paul campaign to empower tenants to make repairs to their rental housing, then bill their landlords for the work, announced they've gathered the signatures to put their measure on the November ballot.

Why it matters: If enacted, the "right-to-repair" ordinance would join St. Paul's first-in-the-Midwest rent control policy and sweeping tenant protections as another local law giving renters more leverage.

Driving the news: The Safe Homes Saint Paul campaign last week submitted more than 7,500 petition signatures from registered voters — at least 2,200 more than needed to trigger an election.

• The city clerk must still confirm their validity.

How it works: The proposed ordinance would require a landlord to address a maintenance issue within 14 days of a tenant's notice.

• If they didn't act, the tenant could pay for repairs and then bill the landlord for the cost up to half a month's rent or $500, whichever is greater.

What they're saying: "This seems like common sense," the campaign's political coordinator, Cole Hanson, told Axios.

• He said many petition signatories' first reaction to the ordinance is: "I didn't know [renters] couldn't already do this."

The other side: "This feels like one more thing that could make future investors more hesitant to put money into the city," Nate Hood, a small-time landlord and member of the St. Paul Planning Commission, told Axios.

• Hood would rather the city strengthen enforcement against bad landlords.

Zoom in: If enacted, renters would be empowered to order repairs for a lengthy list of problems, ranging from minor — like a broken doorknob — to major, like a failing roof or foundation.

• In a multi-unit building, tenants could also share the cost of a more costly repair to a shared appliance, such as a broken boiler, Hanson said.
• The ordinance also spells out a procedure for handling disputes, allowing landlords 30 days to obtain a second opinion from an inspector.

Friction point: "Deciding what needs fixing, who's qualified to do it, and whether a permit is required is real liability. This measure hands it to renters who never signed up for it," said Cecil Smith, president of the Minnesota Multi Housing Association.

• The association's statement said "unpermitted" repairs could turn small problems into big ones.

Yes, but: Hanson frames the ordinance as a "break in case of emergency" safeguard for tenants dealing with a negligent landlord, saying lingering maintenance issues often pose real safety risks.

What we're watching: If signatures are confirmed, the St. Paul City Council would have until July 6 to either send it to the ballot — or enact the ordinance themselves.

• Four of the council's seven members have endorsed it, though Mayor Kaohly Her hasn't publicly taken a position.