Local leaders holding clinic for landlord disputes
Mar 20, 2025
MEMPHIS, Tenn. --- Memphis has no shortage of problem properties, with many tenants dealing with broken things that landlords will not fix. But there is help on the way.
Problems at home can affect everything else in your life, and WREG has gotten an earful of problems over the years from tenants
complaining about landlords who won't fix leaks, or repair heat or they are simply indifferent to complaints.
"The tenants above that unit, their bathroom is the same way and it's just covered in mold," former tenant Jacob Thompson said.
Some are even saying property owners retaliate against tenants.
"But they get upset. And my thing is if you have important things and issues with things going on in your apartment, especially plumbing, you need to get these things fixed," tenant Denozanna Moore said.
Study: Memphis most affordable city for families with 2 kids
Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon has heard it all.
"This is, you know, not only involves, families but also individuals who need to know their rights so they can, you know, stay home and housed," Sugarmon said.
On March 25, she is teaming up with County Community Services and the Eviction Diversion Initiative for a Renter's Rights Clinic for people struggling with landlord disputes.
She says General Sessions Judge Deborah Henderson, who is helping Shelby County begin an eviction court, will also be on hand.
"They have an eviction court in Davidson County as well as, I think it's Rutherford County. We don't have one here," Sugarmon said. "And so what she is doing now is just gathering the data. It's a pilot program, and she's very instrumental in getting it started. And so the data shows that we do need eviction court here."
It's a court specifically for issues that are so pressing to many renters.
"We have a lot of out-of-town, out-of-country landlords, and they're not maintaining their properties," Sugarmon said. "If all else fails and they go to court, then she can maybe help mitigate things between the landlord as well as the tenants." ...read more read less
