Behind Closed Doors: America's Slumlord Problem

In the U.S., slumlord apartment owners—landlords who neglect maintenance and exploit tenants—have become a worsening problem amid the housing crisis. As affordable housing becomes increasingly scarce, vulnerable renters are forced to accept substandard living conditions, with issues like mold, broken plumbing, and lack of heating going unresolved. The soaring cost of rent and stagnant wages leave tenants with few alternatives, giving slumlords more power to ignore regulations without consequence. This crisis, exposes the urgent need for stronger tenant protections and enforcement of housing codes.