Renters in Memphis and Shelby County are continuing to report problems of “unsafe, unhealthy, and unlawful” conditions.
The Memphis Public Interest Law Center found that 80 percent of renters have “serious” problems with the conditions of their homes. One-hundred percent of those with poor housing conditions said it has impacted their health.
Officials from the law center said these consistent problems shed light on the intersectionality of housing and health.
“These are not isolated stories — they are a pattern,” Jamie Johnson, executive director of Memphis Public Interest Law Center, said. “When so many families are living in unsafe homes, we’re not just talking about housing anymore. We’re talking about public health.”
The Haunted Housing Report, released by the Memphis Law Center, shows reported problems facing renters in Memphis and Shelby County.
Researchers noted that as they provide legal aid to renters, the majority of residents report problems with housing conditions. These issues often evolve into eviction.
Assessing these inequities as a pattern, the Memphis Law Center sought to create local data to better understand the rental housing system here. Researchers set out to find information about rental housing conditions in Memphis, how renters address these problems, and how these conditions and their solutions impact those affected.
The report’s findings were based on the experiences of 70 renters. Through 41 interviews conducted in the summer, the law center concluded that poor housing conditions are a significant issue here.
While 90 percent of participants reported at least one issue in their home, 46 percent reported three issues or more. The top issues experienced involved structure, heating and AC, and plumbing.
Many renters reported leaks, roof damage, broken windows, and damaged floors.
These persistent issues have negatively affected renters, as repairs “rarely follow” when reported.
“Oftentimes, renters were forced to move because landlords did not fix the problems.” the report said. “Some families moved repeatedly in search of better conditions, only to encounter similar problems elsewhere.”
These issues are not only experienced by “low-income renters.” A participant that made $85,000 per year reported having utilities shut off because their landlord didn’t pay bills and a neighbor having their sewage backed into their apartment.
The Memphis Law Center asserted that these experiences contrast the notion that poor living conditions are only experienced by the “very poor.”
How landlords respond to renter issues also posed a significant issue.
“Some landlords only became responsive when faced with legal interventions — such as a Code Enforcement inspection, a layer’s letter, or the spectre of having to attend court,” the report said. “ Even then, repairs were often minimal or temporary, and failed to meet basic habitability standards.”
Forty-two percent of renters said landlords responded to their complaints with eviction notices and or other “retaliatory action.”
In hopes of avoiding or remedying the issues themselves, many reached out to other agencies such as the city and nonprofit partners. However, in doing so several renters experienced knowledge gaps and fear of escalation.
Several renters turned to Code Enforcement. While this proved to be helpful to some, several reported retaliation from landlords and management after reporting to Code Enforcement.
“Fifteen percent of renters said that fear of retaliation from a landlord stopped them from reaching out,” the report said.
While the law center’s findings confirmed that the housing crisis is multifaceted, they feel the data reflects renters’ willingness to be involved in a changing system.
“This report offers a renter-centered perspective on our housing crisis — which has long been missing from our conversations about our housing problems, and it raises critical questions about accountability,” Memphis Law Center said. “But reports don’t change systems — people do.”
Memphis Law Center is looking to expand their research to include more renters as well as how resources are allocated to those affected.