LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Renters' rights have been a hot topic in Little Rock this past year, with the conversation gaining steam following the shutdown of the Big Country Chateau apartments.
On Tuesday, Little Rock city board members hosted a meeting that allowed renters to express their concerns.
Arkansas Community Group, also known as Arkansas Renters United, spoke to Little Rock board members during public comment and asked for the same action around the Big Country Chateau apartments to be applied to other complexes in the city.
"Get these owners of these complexes to get up and do something to fix their property, so renters like me don't have to deal with what I dealt with at Big Country," Arkansas Community Group member Norma Huffman said.
Renters claimed their unsafe living conditions had been ignored by apartment management, and now they're asking the city to step in. Specifically, the renters are asking for stricter code enforcement.
"The city did help us," Huffman said. "There's just more people that need help."
Some people with the group are also asked for more animal control in the southwest part of the city for what they called a "stray dog issue."
According to the city, they're working to put out more information and are working to hire additional animal control specialists.
Little Rock leaders said they also met with the community group before the board meeting.
In the city's 2024 budget, officials approved more code enforcement and animal control positions.