It's Time We Stop Abusive Landlords!

The ATA supports the creation of Tenants’ Ombudsman offices in all fifty United States. The purpose of these offices will be to serve as a central point for residential renters to officially voice and register complaints about specific landlord and housing abuses leading to enforcement action.

The ATA recommends that the Office of Ombudsman be an administrative and quasi-judicial function of either the Governor’s Office or Attorney General’s Office of each state. Along with the creation of the Office of Ombudsman, the ATA recommends legislation and regulations that would allow the Ombudsman to bring civil or criminal action or sanctions, including fines, penalties or imprisonment against abusive landlords and landlords who fail to provide for safe, clean and habitable facilities.

All too often, landlords get away with actions contrary to existing law and regulations in their relationships with tenants. The ATA believes that effective enforcement at the state level is needed now to protect the well being of residential renters throughout the United States.