Many low-income renters in Kansas live in decaying homes with health hazards and believe there is little they can do to improve their situation, a new survey shows.
Some renters avoid submitting maintenance requests or reporting their poor living conditions to authorities because they fear retaliation — like an eviction — from their landlords. Experts say state law does not provide enough protection to vulnerable renters in those scenarios.
A University of Kansas survey shows that low-income renters in Douglas County were more likely to feel the risk of eviction than higher-income renters — with more than half of those who report fear of eviction earning less than $35,000 a year.
Kansas renters cite lack of affordable housing and landlord neglect
The renters reported difficulty finding affordable housing without compromising their personal safety, according to the survey. They endured living in homes that landlords have neglected and are not regularly inspected for code violation by authorities. Those issues include mold, broken appliances and pests.