The Durham City Council is expected to vote on a provision intended to protect tenants living in unsafe conditions at its Monday night meeting.
At its October 9 work session, the council discussed a revision to the city’s housing code that would prevent landlords from collecting rent on properties with “imminently dangerous” conditions, like unsafe wiring and severe pest infestations.
Right now, Durham tenants can sue for rent abatement in small claims court if their landlords do not keep properties livable. Charlotte and Pittsboro have similar provisions prohibiting landlords from collecting rent for unsafe units, but members of the Durham City Council and the city attorney have raised concerns about whether the proposed provision would be preempted by state law and open the city up to legal risk…