How to Organize a Tenants' Union

Consider organizing a tenants' union to improve the conditions of your apartment building or complex. Here are some suggestions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Financial Calculator
• Copying Services
• Meeting Site
• Printing Service
• Real Estate Attorneys
• Notebooks
• Personal Organizers
• Writing Pens

1. Talk to neighbors in your building or complex to find out about common problems.
2. Set a place and time for an organizational meeting.
3. Notify other tenants about the meeting by preparing and distributing leaflets or by knocking on neighbors' doors.
4. Discuss shared problems and workable solutions at the meeting.
5. Vote on the formation of a tenants' union and elect officers or a spokesperson who will negotiate for improvements on behalf of the group.
6. Decide on a course of action to remedy problems.
7. Notify the landlord that a tenants' union has been formed.
8. Present demands to the landlord as a group.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you elect a spokesperson who negotiates for the group as a whole, instead of only serving a few individuals.
• Efforts to organize a tenants' union can be a difficult and lengthy process if only a few tenants express interest in uniting efforts.