Tenants got a helping hand from the Madison Housing Committee Tuesday night.
The committee voted unanimously against a proposed ordinance that would allow landlords to sue tenants to recover twice the cost of damages to property.
By recommending to place the proposal on file, the members of the committee sent a message of its disapproval to the City Council, which will have the next vote on the regulation.
\[Placing it on file] is a nice way of saying we're against it,"" said committee member Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, adding that the regulation was based on a similar law that allows tenants to sue landlords for double or triple damages if the landlords violate specific laws.
""This ordinance clearly violates the spirit of consumer protection laws,"" said Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2. ""It makes sense to protect consumers from businesses, but not the other way around.""
No supporters of the proposal came to the meeting, including the main sponsor of the bill, Ald. Dorothy Borchardt, District 12.
The ordinance will be defeated by the City Council, according to Verveer.
""Our unanimous rejection sends the signal to City Council that this is not good policy,"" Verveer said. ""Unless the landlords' political lobby turns this into a major issue and calls landlords in to testify, hopefully this will go away quietly,"" Verveer said.
