Akron renters face 14,000-signature fight over housing fees and screening

More than 14,000 signatures were collected to place two housing proposals on the Akron ballot this year. The drive was led by The Freedom BLOC, a community group that argues the measures will make renting more accessible in a city where more than half of residents struggle to afford the monthly cost of living.

Issue 11 would prohibit landlords from charging application fees. It would also allow tenants to choose how they pay their security deposits. Issue 12 would classify criminal history as a protected class. Under the proposal, landlords could only screen out applicants with records for sex offenses or arson. The group has spent months drafting these rules and gathering support across the city.

Imokhai Okolo, a community organizer and movement lawyer for The Freedom BLOC, stated that the effort is focused on helping everyday people. He said the group believes the proposals benefit the majority of Akron residents who find current housing costs unmanageable. Okolo noted that the ballot initiative is now in the hands of local voters.

The Akron-Canton Real Estate Investors Association opposes both measures. Julie Stoll, the acting president of the association, argued that the proposals remove key tools landlords use to manage risk. She said smaller investors may leave the Akron market if they cannot reduce their financial exposure through standard screening and fee structures.

Stoll predicted that the changes would lead to a decrease in housing supply and an increase in demand. She said this shift would raise rental prices for the remaining units. She emphasized that landlords are investing in Akron and need the ability to protect their assets from potential losses.

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik also called on voters to reject both proposals. In a statement released earlier this month, Malik said the issues attempt to address real problems but fail to consider the negative impacts on both tenants and landlords. He indicated that the city's leadership believes the potential downsides outweigh the benefits.

The Freedom BLOC maintains that the opposition is using fear to sway voters. Okolo said the group is pushing back against the narrative that these changes will hurt the housing market. He pointed to the high cost of living in Akron as the primary driver behind the need for these specific protections.