Breadon, Worrell File Boston ‘Worst Landlords’ List Ordinance

Boston City Council President Liz Breadon and District 4 Councilor Brian Worrell filed an ordinance at the council’s Oct. 21, 2026, meeting that would create a public “Worst Landlords in Boston” list, published twice a year, naming property owners with repeated housing code violations, unpaid fines and other records of noncompliance. The proposal was referred to the Committee on Government Operations, and no hearing date had been set as of Oct. 23, according to CBS Boston.

What the worst landlords list ordinance would do

Under the proposal, as described by Boston.com, the city would score landlords with a points-based system built from Inspectional Services Department (ISD) records. Points would come from housing code violations, reports of poor living conditions, fire code violations, unpaid fines and failure to comply with the city’s rental registration and inspection rules. Owners who cross the threshold would be named on a list released by the city every six months.

The ordinance attaches consequences to the list. According to Boston.com and Caught in Southie, listed landlords could be barred from doing business with the city, receiving city grants, obtaining zoning relief, or taking part in Article 80, the city’s large-project development review process. They would also face more frequent inspections and the maximum fines allowed by law. Caught in Southie reported that a landlord could get off the list by correcting violations and paying outstanding fines.

What the sponsors say

Breadon, who represents Allston-Brighton, told Boston.com the goal is to give tenants more leverage in a rental market where, she said, landlords often hold the “upper hand.” “Landlords will not want to be on that list,” she said. “I feel it puts a little pressure on them to do better and improve their standard of care for their tenants.”

In a statement quoted by Caught in Southie, Breadon said that “for the vast majority of property owners who follow the law, this ordinance will have little to no impact,” and that the measure is aimed at owners who repeatedly ignore housing laws. Worrell said at the Oct. 21 meeting that a list of bad actors “creates the type of focus we need on landlords who consistently fail to maintain their properties,” according to Boston.com. He also called for higher fines and stronger collection of the fines the city already issues.

Boston.com reported that 10 other councilors are supporting the measure: Miniard Culpepper, Sharon Durkan, John FitzGerald, Ed Flynn, Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Erin Murphy, Enrique Pepén, Henry Santana and Benjamin Weber. With Breadon and Worrell, that is 12 of the council’s 13 members.

How the proposal developed

The idea is not new for Breadon. WBUR reported in September that she has worked on a “scofflaw ordinance” since 2023, and that she had worked with ISD to make sure “the metrics are right.” WBUR also reported that Breadon earlier pushed to raise the maximum fine Boston can charge property owners for code violations from $300 to $2,000. In September her office launched a survey asking renters to describe their experiences with landlords; responses cited leaking ceilings, pests and mold, according to Caught in Southie.

Supporters point to other cities. Chicago keeps a “Building Code Scofflaw List” with similar restrictions on doing business with the city, and New York City publishes an annual list of its worst landlords, according to Caught in Southie. WBUR reported that Toronto also runs a public dashboard.

Renters, landlords and what comes next

Most Boston households rent. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts puts the city’s owner-occupied housing rate at 35.7% for 2020-2024, which means roughly 64% of the city’s 283,374 households rent. The median gross rent in that period was $2,147 a month.

Renters interviewed by CBS Boston in South Boston said a public list would help them decide where to live. The Boston Report did not find a public statement on the ordinance from landlord trade groups in the coverage published through Oct. 23. The sponsors have said the list targets repeat violators, not owners who keep their buildings up to code; how the point threshold is set and how owners can contest a listing are likely topics for the committee hearing.

The ordinance now sits with the Government Operations Committee. Breadon told Boston.com a hearing would be scheduled in the coming weeks. If the committee recommends it, the full council would vote, and the measure would go to Mayor Michelle Wu for her signature or veto. Mayor Wu’s office had not publicly commented on the proposal in the coverage reviewed.

The proposal is the latest housing-quality item before the council this fall. Renters can read our guide to Boston’s heating rules for renters, and our earlier report on Mayor Wu’s housing tax incentives for 1,400 units. Council President Breadon also co-sponsored this week’s rodent action plan hearing, where residents raised complaints about absentee landlords.

Sources

• Boston.com: These city councilors want to publish a ‘Worst Landlords in Boston’ list (Oct. 22, 2026)
• CBS Boston: Boston City Council considers making list of city’s worst landlords (Oct. 23, 2026)
• Caught in Southie: City Council introduces “Worst Landlords” database (Oct. 23, 2026)
• WBUR: This Boston city councilor wants to root out the city’s ‘worst’ landlords (Sept. 24, 2026)
• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Boston city, Massachusetts

Photo: Triple-deckers near Forest Hills in Boston, by Boston at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.