A small Topeka renters' group says it has spent two years knocking on doors, documenting mold and roach infestations, and pressing city hall to create a public database that would track landlords and rental conditions across the capital city. The Topeka City Council discussed a proposed rental registry and inspection program earlier this year but took no formal action, leaving the fate of the plan unresolved even as tenant organizers say they intend to keep pushing.
A Grassroots Group Born From Frustration
Topeka Tenants describes itself as a grassroots organization advocating for safe housing and tenant rights, and it originated as an offshoot of the Topeka Democratic Socialists of America, according to reporting from the Kansas City Star. The group has worked for two years and counts between 10 and 20 permanent members, alongside roughly 650 followers on its Facebook page, per that same reporting. Members say their priorities include educating renters on their rights, helping people navigate the legal system, and establishing a landlord registry.
Alex Buzicky, identified in the reporting as connected to the group, said Topeka Tenants wants landlords held accountable, according to the Star. Johnathan Smith, also cited in that coverage, said the organization had been waiting for a registry proposal for months or years. The group has door-knocked at about 30 apartment complexes with known issues, the Star reports, and it accepts referrals from residents asking it to visit specific rentals and complexes.
Documented Complaints and a Named Property Owner
Member Martha Boatright reported cockroach infestations, water leaks, dry rot and poor maintenance at rentals the group visited, and she also reported mold — often black mold — at some of those properties, according to the Star's account. The reporting also names Eucalyptus Real Estate LLC, owned by Lew McGinnis, saying properties tied to the company were reported to have overflowing trash and unsafe conditions along with a broader reported history of neglect. On August 1, tenants at Meadowlark Apartments met with Topeka Tenants, the Star reported, though the outcome of that meeting was not detailed.
The group says it partners with the City of Topeka on reporting uninhabitable and unsafe housing, and it shows residents how to file complaints either with their apartment complex or directly with the city, according to the Star. Separately, the city's own property-maintenance system allows residents to report problems without organizational help: complaints can be called in anonymously to (785) 368-3161 or submitted online through the city's service-request portal. For the majority of code violations, the property owner is treated as the responsible party who receives notice, according to city performance data on neighborhood development.
What The Proposed Registry Would Actually Do
City leaders discussed a rental registry and inspection program during a Topeka City Council meeting this year, as reported by KSNT. The proposed database would be open to the public and would display landlord and property information alongside a 24-month rolling property tier, inspection history and violation history. Under the plan, landlords would pay $20, $30 or $40 per unit depending on which tier their property falls into, based on conditions and violation history, with Tier 1 properties inspected every four years, Tier 2 every two years, and Tier 3 annually.
The first phase of the proposal would apply only to rental properties with five or more units within city limits, with a second phase covering remaining rentals beginning three years later, per the station's report. City staff said there are exemptions for owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes, condemned properties, university-owned housing, and short-term rentals already covered under the city's separate short-term rental ordinance. Covered properties would have 180 days from the ordinance's effective date to register, and the total cost of phase one was reported at roughly $362,932.51.
No Vote Yet, But Pressure Continues
The City Council only discussed the pilot program and took no action on it, the same report notes — meaning the registry remains a proposal rather than an adopted policy. Topeka city staff is nonetheless continuing to pursue a landlord registry, and Topeka Tenants says it convinced the council and city staff to consider establishing one in the first place, according to the Star's reporting, which also credits allies on the council with helping push the issue forward. A final proposal is expected to be presented to the council by the end of the year, per that same account.
Nearly 44% of Topeka residents are renters, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by the Topeka Capital-Journal, underscoring why a registry tracking landlord accountability could affect a large share of the city. Kansas Legal Services Inc. helps teach tenant rights and connect renters with legal help, the Star reports, work that overlaps with what Topeka Tenants says it tries to do at its meetings, held every other Sunday. Group members are also training with the national Tenant Union Federation and say they plan to establish local renters' unions further down the line. Residents looking to get involved or report a rental issue can reach the group at [email protected], according to the Star's reporting.
