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Resident group urges council to consider limits on private-equity single-family ownership
Summary
A local organizer asked council to explore limits on institutional ownership of single-family homes and a landlord registry after presenting research that several out-of-state companies own thousands of homes in the county; councilmembers thanked the speaker and asked staff and city attorneys to review legal avenues.
Jordan McLaughlin of Evict Private Equity Columbus urged council to consider ordinance options to limit institutional ownership of single-family homes and to establish a landlord registry. He said six out-of-state companies own "almost 7,000" homes in Columbus and Franklin County, cited a Federal Reserve of Cleveland study that found higher vacancy clusters in some areas, and argued that concentrated institutional ownership harms affordability and neighborhood stability.
Councilmembers praised McLaughlin for organizing, asked follow-up questions about a proposed two-part approach (ownership limits and a registry), and requested that city attorneys and staff review legal jurisdiction and possible policy tools — including moratoria, vacancy taxes or state advocacy if local authority is limited. Council member Ross noted that some institutional owners are already on the city attorney’s radar for nuisance properties.
McLaughlin said he drafted sample ordinance language as a starting point and invited council to meet to review his research. Council members welcomed further collaboration and committed to report back on what the city can and cannot do within its legal authority.
