Did you know that one-third of all Arkansas households are renter households? That’s almost one million people. And did you know that Arkansas tenants have fewer rights than tenants in any other state?

Unlike tenants in all other states, an Arkansas tenant doesn’t have a legal right to a livable home. Arkansas tenants who are sued in the most common type of civil lawsuit are usually dispossessed without a hearing, because of our unfair unlawful detainer law, which is unlike that of almost any other state. And unlike tenants in all other states, Arkansas tenants can be criminally prosecuted for failure to pay rent and vacate. 

Our unfair laws are bad for public health, and cause more demand for taxpayer-subsidized health care. They’re bad for business. They’re bad for property values. And they’re bad for Arkansas.

Healthy housing is better for adults, children, and neighborhoods. It’s good business to have a safe, healthy workforce, and that starts with a safe, healthy home. Government regulates the food we eat and other products we buy. There’s even a warranty on new homes! There should be a habitability warranty for rental housing as well. Did you know that over 90% of Arkansans support passage of legislation of an implied warranty of habitability?

Arkansans for Stronger Communities supports changing Arkansas laws to bring us into the 21st century and make our communities stronger. Arkansans for Stronger Communities is a nonprofit corporation that educates the public on needed change, drafts legislation, and advocates for legislation to improve the lives of Arkansans.