MANHATTAN — Kansas State University students engaged with Manhattan City Commissioners Thursday at a town hall discussion where concerns were raised on a lack of safe and affordable housing in the city. The forum was hosted by the Kansas State University Student Governing Association along with Renters Together MHK.
Hosted by the K-State Student Governing Association, students asked commissioners what their rights are as tenants. One student says she’s lived in Manhattan for eight years and had numerous code violations at each of the rental units she’s lived. She says her air conditioning unit had a chemical fire last year and when the HVAC technician came out, he said it was well past its life cycle and warranty.
She asked commissioners what they can do to enforce codes so that landlords can’t intimidate tenants. City Commissioner Usha Reddi expressed a need for tenants to be aware that they have rights as renters.
As the city works toward potentially bringing back a mandatory rental inspection ordinance which was repealed in 2011, commissioner Jerred McKee told students that a hurdle is convincing those who opposed the ordinance that it’s impeding a person’s privacy or more government intrusion.
McKee says landlords aren’t generally in favor because it may create additional costs for them to bring properties, particularly older properties up to code. But it also will cost the city, on an already tight budget since they’d likely have to hire additional code inspectors.
Commissioner Linda Morse says places like Fort Riley and even the city’s section 8 housing and Manhattan Towers all have to meet certain standards before being rented.
Morse says it’s important the city act on reinstating some form of an inspection ordinance, which the city hasn’t had since it was repealed in 2011. She says it’s critical as many cities in Kansas are losing population.
Commissioner Reddi says good policies need to be followed by all landlords, to keep Manhattan thriving.
The city is using Lawrence’s current inspection ordinance as a guide as the city continues discussion on the matter. Commissioners hope to vote on a plan later this year.
