Tenants organize at different levels to build power and fight rising rents, poor maintenance, and eviction threat: building or block, neighborhood, and citywide
Building/Block Associations
The first step is forming a tenant association with neighbors in your building or on your block. If you rent from a small, private landlord and your neighbors have different landlords, you can still organize a block-based tenant association.
Neighborhood Councils
Multiple building and block tenant associations—whether in the same neighborhood—can come together to form a neighborhood tenant council. These councils unite renters and serve as a powerful tool for collective action at a hyperlocal level.
All Building/Block Tenant Associations and Neighborhood Tenant Councils affiliated with the Richmond Tenants Union must commit to the following principles:
- Uphold anti-racist, feminist, queer- and trans-inclusive practices
- Operate through a democratic decision-making process
- Follow a nested structure, starting with building/block associations and scaling up to neighborhood councils
- Have at least 1-2 members to participate in citywide union decision-making
- Meet regularly with a prepared agenda and assigned roles such as facilitator, notetaker, and timekeeper
- Support other tenant councils within the Union, when needed
Starting is simple: talk with your neighbors, hold a meeting or social event, and take action together. And remember—you’re not organizing alone. You’re part of the Union!