Wichita rejects tenant protections and landlord registry, will consider changing housing code

A split Wichita City Council rejected proposals Tuesday to protect tenants from income discrimination and to establish a registry of landlords with serial housing code violations, but will consider an updated property enforcement code.

WICHITA, Kan. (The Journal) - A split Wichita City Council rejected proposals Tuesday to protect tenants from income discrimination and to establish a registry of landlords with serial housing code violations.

The proposed ordinances were defeated on 4-3 votes after hours of passionate public comment from landlords, property owners and tenants.

However, the council did vote 4-3 to move forward with consideration of an updated property enforcement code, which will return to council on Dec 9. The regulations would mandate sanitary conditions in rental units