Duluth voters could see two rival rental-rights measures on the November ballot, one drafted by local tenants and another by city councilors. While tenant advocates say their plan empowers renters to handle overdue repairs themselves, most city council members say it’s risky and legally flawed.
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Tenants Union Push
On June 12, members of the Duluth Tenants Union submitted a petition with 6,000 signatures to place a “right to repair” ordinance on the November ballot. The group, supported by St. Paul-based TakeAction Minnesota, argues that renters need more control when landlords neglect basic repairs.
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Councilors Reject Proposal
This week, Duluth’s City Council voted 6-2 against adopting the citizen-led ordinance outright. Instead, councilors approved their own version, claiming it achieves the same goals in a safer, enforceable way without risking legal problems for tenants.
Two Measures Explained
The Duluth Tenants ordinance allows renters to notify landlords in writing about needed repairs. If ignored for two weeks, renters could hire licensed contractors and deduct costs from rent, up to half a month’s rent or $500 minimum. Landlords would be banned from retaliating.
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Council’s Alternative Plan
Council President Terese Tomanek, Councilor Lynn Nephew, and Councilor Roz Randorf authored the council’s alternative. It gives landlords 14 days to respond to repair requests, imposes fines for ignoring them, and includes escalating penalties up to license revocation. Landlords would also need to complete an education course every three years.
Concerns Over Tenant Risks
Councilor Roz Randorf warned the citizens’ plan could backfire, leaving renters liable if repairs done independently cause damage. Randorf said the city-backed version “puts the real power in the hands of the city to enforce safe housing without punishing the people we’re trying to protect.”
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Supporters and Critics Speak
Duluth resident Aaron Rose told councilors his landlord ignored a broken lock despite a city citation. He added his own padlock, which the city then counted as the fix. “The councilors’ ordinance offers more bureaucracy in place of power,” Rose said. Lake Superior Area Realtors representative Riley Barnhardt said the tenants’ plan “invites disorder” by letting renters deduct costs without permits or inspections. It “will have real-world impacts” on the housing market, he warned.
Future Ballot Fate
If enough petition signers withdraw their names in the next 10 days, the citizen measure could be removed from the ballot. Councilor Arik Forsman said the tenants’ proposal has unclear language and could trap renters with bills over $500, adding, “It almost killed the St. Paul housing market” when a similar group pushed rent control there. Duluth Tenants leader DyAnna Grondahl said, “We are fighting for Duluth right-to-repair because we know that renters across the city are not getting what they need.”
