Shreveport, La. – In a unanimous 7‑0 vote Tuesday, the Shreveport City Council approved Resolution 91, a comprehensive plan to combat blighted rental properties and hold absentee landlords accountable for neglecting basic living standards and misusing tenant utility payments.
Resolution calls for coordinated enforcement
The measure urges Mayor Tom Arceneaux, the City Attorney’s Office, Shreveport Property Standards, the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s Zoning Enforcement unit, and the Shreveport Police Department to investigate non‑compliant owners and pursue legal action to the fullest extent of the law. When appropriate, cases will be referred directly to the Caddo Parish District Attorney for criminal prosecution.
Residents plagued by unsafe conditions
Council members cited ongoing complaints from residents about deteriorating apartment complexes, unsanitary conditions, pest infestations, and frequent utility shutoffs. Tenants often pay rent that includes utilities, only to have master‑meter bills left unpaid by property owners, resulting in service interruptions that leave families without heat, water, or electricity.
Support from local real‑estate professionals
During the public comment period, Lindora Baker, government affairs director for the Northwest Louisiana Realtors Association, voiced strong backing for the resolution. “We have long stated that we support the efforts to go after property owners who have been found in violation of long‑standing property standard codes,” Baker said. “While we strongly support private property rights, those rights do come with obligations to maintain their property according to the approved community standards and to follow our laws.”
Baker noted that most Shreveport rentals are locally owned and well‑managed, but problem properties often involve absentee owners who live outside the community. She added that failing to remit utility payments collected from tenants constitutes fraud under state law.
Legal and administrative tools
Resolution 91 directs city departments to use existing enforcement mechanisms, including administrative hearings before an Environmental Court hearing officer under Shreveport Ordinance No. 139 of 2019 and the city’s rental registry established by Ordinance No. 195 of 2022. The measure also asks public utility providers to coordinate with local officials, give advance notice to tenants and the city before master‑meter disconnections, and take steps to minimize disruption.
Reporting and next steps
The city administration is required to report back to the council within 90 days with an update on the number of properties inspected, adjudicated, and referred for prosecution. Council members expressed confidence that the coordinated approach will protect families, uphold property‑owner responsibilities, and improve the overall quality of housing in Shreveport.
By targeting negligent landlords and enforcing existing codes, the council aims to preserve safe, affordable homes for Shreveport families while reinforcing the principle that private property rights carry clear duties to the community.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
