Membership is open to all Richmond tenants—including renters, public housing residents, the unhoused, and incarcerated people—who accept our community agreements. Tenant members have voting rights in the union, while homeowners may join as non-voting allies. Landlords and law enforcement are not permitted.
A tenant is anyone who doesn't ownership or control their housing.
A landlord is anyone who profits from rental housing, including individual investors of hedge fund owned housing.
Some members may be Active within their neighborhood council or building/block association without committing to citywide Active Membership. Any member not choosing Active in the citywide union, neighborhood council, or building/block association will automatically be considered Supporting Members.
Membership Types
Supporting Members
Supporters are expected to pay dues ($2/month), if possible. Supporting Members are welcome to engage to in their neighborhood and building/block group chats, participate in calls for direct action, and receive updates in our monthly newsletter.
Active Members
Active Members are expected to pay dues ($2/month) and to be active in sustaining the union by:
- Volunteering 2+ hours/month between the Union, your Neighborhood Council, or Building/Block Association
- Attending one or more general meetings each month
- Joining a working group, taking on an admin role, or acting as delegate for larger collectives and networks
New Active Members will be prompted to sign up for an onboarding call with one of the membership coordinators and should attend the next Member Orientation.
Membership Levels
Citywide Tenant Union
Neighborhood Tenant Councils
Building/Block Tenant Associations
Existing building/block associations interested in affiliating with RTU or one of its neighborhood tenant councils may request a presentation from an RTU organizer before voting to join, then invited to schedule a group orientation.
Dues
A minimum of $2/month ($24/year) is expected for Active or Supporting Membership and Building/Block Association and Neighborhood Council, unless otherwise stated.
Can’t pay right now? No problem! Join us now, and if you’re able to contribute later, you can do so—no questions asked. RTU’s voluntary, sliding-scale dues help keep us independent and accountable only to each other, not outside funders. Every contribution, no matter the amount, is an investment in building a strong, tenant-led movement.