Tenant Advocates Mobilize After Wichita Rejects Renter Protection Measures

A new tenant-led organization is stepping forward to educate Wichita renters about their rights after the City Council rejected two major proposals intended to strengthen protections for renters and hold problem landlords accountable.  

At a recent Council meeting, members of the ICT Tenants Union spoke in favor of the proposals — one to create a landlord registry for properties with repeated violations, and another to prohibit landlords from discriminating against renters who use Section 8 or Social Security income. The Council voted both measures down, opting instead to create a task force to continue reviewing city building codes.

Instead, the council decided to establish yet another committee – not to look directly at policies aimed to help tenants –  but instead at the city’s building code issues.   

For many renters and tenant advocates, the decision leaves long-standing concerns about housing conditions, retaliation, and discrimination unaddressed.

Two Major Renter Protections Rejected

The defeated package included:

1. A Landlord Registry

The proposed ordinance would have required landlords with multiple property-maintenance violations to register affected rental units with the city. The goal was increased transparency, more oversight of chronic offenders, and better protection for tenants living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

2. A Source-of-Income Nondiscrimination Ordinance

This measure would have made it illegal for landlords to refuse tenants solely because they rely on:

• Section 8 housing vouchers
  
• Social Security
  
• Disability payments
  
• Other lawful sources of income

Both measures were rejected, meaning:

• Landlords can still legally deny applicants based on how they pay their rent.
  
• Repeated code violators remain untracked by the city.
  
• Tenants who report unsafe conditions may still fear retaliation.
  

Instead, the Council voted to convene a task force focused only on building code issues — leaving the broader policy reforms off the table for now.

Tenants Say Conditions Haven’t Changed

Members of the ICT Tenants Union, formed earlier this year, say Wichita renters need stronger protections and clearer information about their rights.

“What stood out to me was how unwilling many landlords were to address issues that were hurting their tenants’ health, finances, and families,” said Adalia Carter, the group’s media liaison. “It’s their business, but it’s tenants’ lives.”

Carter said many renters the group meets through door-to-door outreach are unaware they have any legal options at all.

The union plans to push for stronger housing policies and rent caps while offering training sessions to help tenants navigate lease agreements, document problems, and understand the eviction process.

Landlords Push Back on Reform Efforts

Several landlords spoke against the protections, sharing negative experiences with Section 8 tenants and raising concerns about increased oversight.

“We have never had a Section 8 tenant that did not cause damages far exceeding their deposit,” landlord Lisa Hatrop told the Council. “Every single Section 8 tenant that we have had caused damage, and that comes out of our pockets.”

Landlords and their legal representatives also argued that the failed proposal would have expanded city control over private property and unfairly targeted property owners.

Property owner Gail Clark called the proposal “making an issue out of a non-issue,” saying that if the ordinance passed, she wanted a registry of tenants who had damaged properties.

Others, such as property manager Neyla Beyouth, opposed the ordinance but acknowledged the need to rein in chronic violators:

“We need a more strict process to deal with folks who are not complying because it makes the rest of us look very bad,” she said.

What Rights Do Tenants Have Now?

Even without the failed measures, tenants still have some legal tools — but none are straightforward, said Steve Minson, an attorney with Kansas Legal Services.

14–30 Day Notice

Tenants can give landlords a written notice giving them 14 days to fix an issue. If repairs aren’t made, the lease ends at the end of the next rental period (about 30 days later).
Minson warns this doesn’t help renters needing immediate repairs and doesn’t void the obligation to pay rent for the final month.

City Inspections

Renters can call the Wichita Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department. Inspectors can cite landlords and order repairs, but response time varies.

Suing in Small Claims Court

Tenants may sue for damages, but small claims courts cannot force a landlord to make repairs. Suing during a lease may also strain relationships with landlords.

Minson advises first-time renters to research landlords before signing a lease, check Google reviews (with caution), drive by properties, and take photos when moving in.

Council Members Cite Serious Housing Problems

Council members Brandon Johnson and Mike Hoheisel both voted in favor of the proposed ordinances.  They spoke about visiting constituent homes with black mold, leaks, and other unsafe conditions. They also heard reports of landlords retaliating against tenants who reported code violations.

Johnson said the rejected ordinance would have focused on “serial violators” who repeatedly fail to provide safe and habitable housing.

What Happens Next?

The newly created task force will study building code issues, but for now, Wichita’s rental landscape remains largely unchanged:

• No registry to track chronic violators
  
• No protection against income discrimination
  
• No additional safeguards against retaliation

For tenant advocates, it means the work continues.

Organizations like ICT Tenants Union and Kansas Legal Services say they will keep educating renters, connecting them with legal support, and calling for reforms they believe are necessary to keep Wichita families safe and housed.