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.

Multifamily housing violations present especially urgent risks. Residents may be dealing with persistent plumbing failures, compromised fire safety systems, inaccessible common areas, or hazardous conditions that have gone unaddressed for years. These environments disproportionately affect children, seniors, and vulnerable individuals, often triggering health crises or forcing families to choose between safety and housing stability.

California’s laws protect tenants from slum housing 

In California, Health & Safety Code §17980.7 provides a pathway for cities and counties to petition the court to appoint a receiver when conditions at multifamily buildings are substandard and property owners are unresponsive or uncooperative.  In many cases, this tool is the only effective remedy after repeated citations, fines, or enforcement actions have failed. Receivership allows for court-ordered intervention to stabilize the property, collect rents, correct the violations, and—importantly —preserve occupancy for current tenants when feasible. In drastic cases, the appointed receiver will coordinate tenant relocation, ensuring a safe living environment while critical repairs are made. 

Other states are following California’s blueprint 

Other states are following California’s lead. Nevada’s AB211 will take effect on October 1, 2025, and expands the use of receivership for public nuisance and substandard conditions, specifically for multifamily housing. The law allows local governments to request court intervention when health, safety, or habitability issues persist. AB211 emphasizes public safety while prioritizing the preservation of housing and tenant rights in Nevada’s cities and rural counties alike.

Similarly, Colorado’s SB25-020 (2025) modernizes the state’s receivership framework and authorizes courts to appoint receivers in civil actions involving substandard multifamily rental properties. The bill underscores the importance of maintaining habitable housing and provides clear guidance for courts, owners, and receivers working to correct dangerous conditions. Like California’s model, it allows receivers to collect rent, make repairs, and provide written updates to tenants throughout the rehabilitation process.

These legal frameworks reflect a growing consensus: receivership is not just a remedy for code enforcement—it is a mechanism to protect housing stability, ensure public safety, and prevent the erosion of affordable housing stock.

In multifamily cases, the impact of receivership is immediate and measurable. Properties that have been neglected for years can be brought into compliance within months. Cities regain control over chronic problem sites. And most importantly, tenants regain safe, livable conditions without the fear of becoming homeless. 

As more jurisdictions embrace receivership as a public safety and housing preservation tool, the focus must remain on what’s at stake: families, homes, and communities. The legal authority is there – either as an already-established remedy, or as a blueprint for other cities to replicate in their own communities. 

Our team has extensive experience with multifamily rental properties 

Griswold Receivers has experience operating and rehabilitating substandard apartment buildings. Our team has been appointed throughout the western region to take control of disputed and distressed real property to bring them back into compliance. 

For more information or to discuss a problem property in your area, contact us today.