Worst Landlords List Ordinance
At a glance
- What: Docket No. 1958, an ordinance filed by Council President Breadon (with Worrell as second original sponsor) to create a worst landlords list and extend rental property code enforcement against chronic offenders and scofflaws.
- Where it stands: introduced October 21, 2026 and referred to the Government Operations Committee. No hearing date yet; Breadon expects a working session to refine it.
- What to watch: how the points threshold is set and how it interacts with the existing problem properties list and task force.
The proposal
- Landlords earn points for serious infractions; once over a threshold they are published on a list twice a year, giving prospective tenants easy access to inspection and code enforcement data.
- Listed owners would be excluded from city grants, zoning relief and consideration for Article 80 projects, and face increased inspections and maximum fines; they can leave the list by fixing violations and paying outstanding fines.
- Breadon noted that about 65% of Boston households rent (87% in Allston) and that current tools require slow coordination across departments.
- Worrell said he files a yearly hearing order on problem properties, hopes for a working session on the problem properties list, and said the tax-bill line for unpaid fines and violations is left blank each quarter, leaving millions of dollars uncollected.
Official minutes record
From the official minutes of the October 21, 2026 City Council meeting, which are the authority on motions and votes; the captions are less exact on tallies.
- The minutes title Docket No. 1958 "Ordinance Establishing a 'Bad Landlords List' and Extending Rental Property Code Enforcement Against Chronic Offenders and Scofflaws" (the captions and this page's name say "worst landlords").
- Offered by Council President Breadon with twelve listed sponsors including Worrell, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana and Weber. Coletta Zapata was in the chair. Referred to the Committee on Government Operations; no vote.
Sources
- 2026-10-21 - City Council (captioned recording)
- Minutes, October 21, 2026: https://boston.legistar1.com/boston/meetings/2026/10/14268_M_City_Council_26-10-21_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
Discussion time
About 4 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-21 - City Council | 4 |
Log
- 2026-10-21 - City Council - Filed by Breadon with Worrell as second sponsor; remarks from both; other councilors added; referred to Government Operations. Official minutes: filed (Docket No. 1958) and referred to Government Operations; Coletta Zapata in the chair.