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Health and safety violations in multifamily housing are not merely regulatory matters—they are lived experiences that impact the well-being of residents across the United States. When multifamily properties fall into disrepair, the consequences reach far beyond code books and inspection reports. Mold, vermin infestations, exposed wiring, structural decay—these are not abstract problems. They affect real people and families in real time.

Substandard housing is a growing issue. It’s estimated that 330 million urban households worldwide live in substandard housing. In the United States alone there are about six million homes and apartment buildings listed as substandard, and the problem isn’t going away any time soon.

The Online Etymology Dictionary reports that the word “slumlord” came into popular use in 1953, but it derived as a portmanteau of “slum landlord,” which had been used as early as 1893. Needless to say, slumlords’ neglect is not a new problem.