NEED A LANDLORD REGISTRY
While Molly Wallace was gathering information for her article, there were many tenants and employees who work with or for landlords who were afraid to come forward (“Housing is a human right,” Oct. 1). Fear of retaliation from landlords and real estate agents here in this city is very real. This is why we need regular inspections and licensing so tenants can have their requests for decent living conditions addressed without fear of being evicted or priced out of their homes. One landlord has been reported to have pushed long-term tenants living in the downtown area out of their homes just so higher rents could be put in place. Turnover from one corporation to another has also resulted in long-term tenants losing their homes, going without utilities during the turnover or being priced out.
No one should be forced to live in substandard conditions out of fear. If a landlord can’t afford $25 a year for a license and $2 a month for each unit, perhaps they don’t have the ability to properly take care of their properties. If they are worried about license fee hikes (tenants have to live with this fear of price increases) the city can stipulate hikes can only occur if put to a city ballot.
Being a landlord is a business that directly impacts people lives. What if we stopped restaurant and nursing home inspections and licensing? It’s time we stand up to these intimidation tactics and start maintaining basic standards for living conditions.
Homeowners are angry at how their neighborhoods are decaying from landlords who lack either the ability or ethics to maintain their properties. Let’s shape a licensing program that rewards local landlords who are invested and dedicated to this community and prevent unengaged landlords from making a quick profit and dumping their neglect onto the city.
We must also address recent signs that claim a landlord licensing and inspection program will raise taxes. This begs the question, “Why should we believe or trust anything they say?” The Kansas City program is financed by the fees collected through its licensing program. These signs show that there are landlords in town who cannot be trusted and therefore definitely need inspections on a regular basis.
Anne Logue
Springfield
USE CURRENT RULES
Could somebody explain how a landlord registry will make a difference? We already have property owners or their agents listed at the county assessor office. Ownership, or agent of owner, should be sufficient enough for formal notifications.
We already have building codes and enforcement capability. Documenting violations and notifying the responsible party with a deadline to make corrections should be sufficient enough to justify further action if notices are ignored.
What value does a separate registry provide? Is it a revenue scheme, making landlords pay a fee for a listing on a registry in an office where they are compelled to register? Is it a jobs expansion of government staff to collect, monitor, update and forward communications?
If building codes are not sufficiently enforced now, what is it about a special list of information already available that will compel compliance? Every time I hear a legitimate-sounding hard luck story about an innocent tenant mistreated by an evil landlord, it sounds like something that could and should be handled under current law and enforcement processes.
I support the goal of adequate, safe housing. I just don’t think making a list and checking it twice will have anywhere near the impact that active code enforcement will have. So why aren’t landlords being held to the current standards for building codes?
John Levalley
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
VERY NEEDED
This is so desperately needed in this town. The poorest among us are often forced into substandard housing, and landlords abuse the fact there is no tenants’ union in Springfield.
Carey Smith
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
RENTS WILL GO UP
I hope everyone on both sides understand the price of housing will go up. This is not the direction that will ultimately help tenants.
Robert Young
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
SUCCESS NOT A CRIME
The ultimate problem is, the city already has all the resources it needs to address problem properties, it just wants more power and control. How dare someone be successful and own and maintain properties to rent out at a profit.
Justin Phillips
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
This article appears in October 15-21, 2026.
