Bellingham Rental Inspector Leaves After 'Hostile' Inspection Complaints

Tenant advocates push for more professionalism in city's rental inspection program

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A city of Bellingham residential rental inspector is no longer employed after a renter and tenant advocates reported his 'hostile and aggressive' behavior during a routine inspection of an apartment with numerous habitability issues. The incident has prompted calls for stronger code enforcement and more professional conduct from city inspectors.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between renters, landlords, and city officials over housing conditions and code enforcement in Bellingham. It raises questions about the effectiveness of the city's rental inspection program and the need for more robust oversight and training of inspectors to ensure they interact with tenants in a professional manner.

The details

During a scheduled inspection of Maria Alexander's apartment, which had issues like holes in the walls, non-functioning appliances, and severe mold, the inspector allegedly became defensive, claimed to represent federal agencies, and demanded identification from Alexander and the tenant advocates present. When they declined, he refused to conduct the inspection and left. City officials later confirmed the inspector was no longer employed as of February 11.

  • In December, Alexander was notified the inspector would be coming to her apartment.
  • The incident occurred during the scheduled inspection in December.
  • On February 11, the city confirmed the inspector was no longer employed.

The players

Maria Alexander

A renter at Baker Vista Apartments in Bellingham who has been dealing with numerous habitability issues in her unit for years.

Ethan Martez

An advocate with the local group Tenants Revolt who has been supporting Alexander.

Blake Lyon

The City of Bellingham Director of Planning & Community Development, who acknowledged the need for professionalism from city employees.

City of Bellingham

The local government responsible for the Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program, which aims to ensure safe living conditions for tenants.

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What they’re saying

“The big takeaway here is that he tried to intimidate me as well as Maria, an elderly woman who is taking care of her daughter with autism. It's wrong.”

— Ethan Martez, Tenant Advocate (The Bellingham Herald)

“We agree that professionalism is a critical responsibility of any city employee — especially when they have been welcomed into someone's residence to perform a safety inspection.”

— Blake Lyon, City of Bellingham Director of Planning & Community Development (The Bellingham Herald)

What’s next

The city council intended to bolster the efficacy of the Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program in 2024 by eliminating 'declarations of compliance' and instead requiring actual inspections of rental properties.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for the City of Bellingham to ensure its rental inspection program is effective at identifying and addressing habitability issues, while also requiring inspectors to interact with tenants in a professional and non-confrontational manner. Stronger code enforcement and better training for inspectors could help improve the experiences of both renters and landlords.