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Council adopts substitute to rental code updating landlord-tenant responsibilities, including bed‑bug provisions
Summary
New Castle County Council approved Substitute No. 1 to Ordinance 25-107 to amend county residential rental property code; the measure passed 11–2 after council debate about bed‑bug responsibilities and a public commenter described personal hardship.
New Castle County Council on Sept. 23 adopted Substitute No. 1 to Ordinance 25-107, a revision to the county’s residential rental properties code intended to modernize landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities.
Councilman Koneko, who led the measure, said the substitute cleans up and modernizes statutory language and “protects a lot of people that rent in our county.” The ordinance was discussed in committee earlier the same day and returned to council for final action.
The meeting’s debate included disagreement over which party should bear primary responsibility for bed‑bug infestations. Councilman Tyrone Hollins opposed that portion of the substitute, calling bed bugs “basically hitchhikers” and suggesting the county may not be the appropriate forum to address the issue. Other council members and a public commenter said tenants frequently face slow responses from landlords and that clearer standards are needed.
Resident Dora Williams, calling in from the Rose Hill Community Center, urged the council to adopt protections and described a friend in a nursing home who has struggled with bed‑bug infestations for years. “It just gives us hope,” Williams said, thanking the council for addressing the issue.
After public comment, the clerk called the roll. The council approved the substitute ordinance 11–2; the roll call was recorded as 11 yes, 2 no. The substitute was recorded as adopted.
Text and scope: The adopted substitute is described in the meeting as an amendment to New Castle County Code Chapter 19 (residential rental properties) concerning landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities. The substitute was described at the meeting as “cleanup” and as within the regulatory purview of the county. Specific code section language and any implementation schedule were not read into the record during the floor vote.
Next steps: The adopted substitute will become part of the county code as provided by the county’s codification procedures and staff will carry out implementation tasks; the transcript shows staff and committee review before the council vote.
Sources: Council floor debate and roll call on Sept. 23, 2025; public comment from resident Dora Williams.
