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Commissioner updates committee on landlord and tenant advisory groups; staff advises keeping groups informal
Summary
Commissioner Lanter reported on ongoing landlord and tenant advisory groups, describing membership outreach, attendance challenges—especially among tenants—and examples of program influence; staff recommended keeping the groups informal rather than codifying them as official boards.
Commissioner Lanter updated the General Government and Planning Committee on April 28 about the city’s landlord and tenant advisory groups, which were created to provide regular feedback to divisions and improve policy design.
Lanter said both groups began in 2023 as informal, quarterly forums rather than appointed commissions. The landlord advisory group initially sought to represent a range of property owners and managers; the tenant advisory group was reconstituted after low attendance and now incorporates partner organizations to ensure participation. Lanter said efforts to boost attendance have included evening meetings, providing food and childcare, and holding district forums; even with those measures, tenant meetings often drew only 30–50% of the intended participants and at least one session had no attendees.
On whether the groups should be codified, Lanter cautioned against formalizing them into ordinances or appointed boards, saying that a formal requirement could create operational burdens and obligations that staff cannot yet guarantee. “I would caution against that,” Lanter told the committee, citing inconsistent participation and the risk that a codified board would require rescheduling or administrative backstops if meetings do not occur.
Council members praised the outreach efforts and pressed for ways to increase tenant participation. Members suggested strategies such as virtual participation, tenant opt‑in registries (similar to EngageLexington registrations), and working through community organizations. Lanter cited a recent success: the housing stability services program (a legal aid program included in the budget) was informed by feedback from these advisory groups.
Council member Lynch closed the discussion by keeping the advisory groups in committee for an annual update.
