Maine Tenants Justice League thanks the Augusta City Council for passing rental housing inspection ordinances that ensure safe housing for low-income tenants living in older buildings.
MTJL also thanks the landlords for not opposing the most recent ordinance. If we work as a collaborative community, we can fix these buildings for their intended purpose — to give low-income tenants a safe, decent place to live.
Incorporated July 26, MTJL is a nonprofit statewide tenants’ union whose mission is to educate tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities and to initiate fair and balanced amendments to rules and laws governing housing standards and tenant-landlord relationships.
MTJL responds to each inquiry with customized research, education, support and advocacy. We do not offer legal advice.
MTJL echoes the concerns voiced by Charlie Anderson, director of the Capital Area Housing Association board, as published in the KJ article, “Augusta apartment ordinance up for final vote”: “I really don’t know what rules landlords would have to abide by. It’s confusing. … How can an average person figure this out?”
We at MTJL also are concerned about rule inconsistencies from town to town and how those inconsistencies cause personal and professional conflicts, confusion and unacceptable safety hazards.
As I said during the Nov. 21 council meeting, we at MTJL are working on a solution that we hope to develop and implement with help from tenants, landlords, small businesses and city agents.
MTJL anticipates developing strong relationships with all tenants, landlords, real estate agents, local businesses, city/state agencies and any organization that wants to help improve housing conditions.
People who are willing to provide their time, experiences, skills, expertise, professional services and/or products to help create safe dwelling units for low-income tenants are asked to contact us at 358-8887 or email to volunteer@mainetenants.org.
Gina Turcotte, founder and presidentMaine Tenants Justice League Inc.Augusta
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