Columbus Rental Registry Proposal Sparks Debate Between Landlords and Tenant Advocates

City Council weighs mandatory registration of rental units to address problem landlords, but landlords threaten legal challenge.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Columbus City Councilmember Nick Bankston has proposed a rental registry that would require all landlords to register their rental units with the city, in an effort to identify and address problem properties. The proposal has faced strong opposition from landlords and property owners, who argue it adds unnecessary costs without enough benefit. Tenant advocates, including the interfaith group BREAD, support the registry as a way to improve housing conditions, but say the latest revisions have weakened the measure. The city has removed mandatory inspections of individual units due to legal concerns, but will now do preventative inspections of apartment building common areas every three years. Landlords have threatened to legally challenge the registry if it becomes law.

Why it matters

The rental registry proposal is part of a broader effort in Columbus to address issues of housing quality and tenant-landlord relations. Proponents see it as a way to identify and hold accountable bad landlords, while opponents argue it unfairly burdens all landlords. The debate highlights the tensions between protecting tenants' rights and concerns from landlords about added regulations and costs.

The details

The original rental registry proposal included proactive inspections of individual rental units, but the city nixed that due to legal concerns about entering homes without probable cause. The latest version calls for inspections of apartment building common areas every three years, and allows for individual unit inspections only if a property is placed in "conditional" status for repeatedly failing to fix code violations. The registration fee has also been reduced from $20 to $15 per unit, with a $1,500 cap per apartment complex. Landlord groups, including the Columbus Apartment Association, remain strongly opposed to the registry and have threatened legal action if it is approved. Tenant advocates like BREAD say the proposal is a good first step, but could be strengthened further.

  • The rental registry proposal was first introduced by Councilmember Nick Bankston in September 2025.
  • The latest public hearing on the proposal was held on February 19, 2026.

The players

Nick Bankston

A Columbus City Councilmember who has introduced the rental registry proposal.

Cindy Flaherty

Vice president of BREAD, an interfaith group representing over 40 religious congregations in Central Ohio that supports the rental registry proposal.

Gerry O'Neil

A local real estate broker and property manager who testified against the rental registry proposal on behalf of multiple landlord groups.

Dimitri Hatzifotinos

An attorney who represents landlords and property owners with the Columbus Apartment Association, and has threatened legal action against the rental registry proposal.

Scott Messer

Director of the Columbus Department of Building & Zoning Services, which has drafted the latest revisions to the rental registry proposal.

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What they’re saying

“The current complaint-based system of code enforcement is not adequate to address the issues of today's housing market. The most recent draft proposal for the rental registry would put Columbus on the right path.”

— Cindy Flaherty, Vice president of BREAD (dispatch.com)

“Unfortunately, I'm here today to tell you we will legally challenge this legislation as it currently stands. We have no choice but to challenge.”

— Dimitri Hatzifotinos, Attorney representing landlords and property owners (dispatch.com)

What’s next

Councilmember Bankston said the city will continue refining the rental registry proposal, and he intends to have the City Council consider the legislation for approval in March 2026.

The takeaway

The debate over Columbus' rental registry proposal highlights the ongoing tensions between landlords and tenant advocates over housing regulations. While both sides agree action is needed to address problem properties, they disagree on the appropriate solutions and the balance between tenant protections and landlord concerns over added costs and oversight.