Tenant Organizing

United Tenants of Albany (UTA) supports renters in forming Tenant Associations and Tenant Unions—powerful, collective tools for building tenant power, demanding better housing conditions, and creating change.

Tenant groups can be organized by: apartment building, housing complex, shared landlord, street, neighborhood or even citywide!

What Is a Tenant Union?

A Tenant Union is a group of renters who join together to negotiate collectively with their landlord. Much like a labor union, tenant unions use their collective voice to demand:

Repairs and building maintenance
Rent abatements or reductions
Increased safety and security
Long-term housing stability
Broader community improvements

How We Can Help

UTA works alongside tenants to build strong, sustainable tenant unions. Here’s what we offer:

Help organizing initial meetings with neighbors
Support in identifying shared housing issues
Guidance on documenting tenant concerns
Tools for planning and holding group meetings
Training on negotiation strategies and escalation plans
Ongoing support as you build leadership and structure

Our role is to support, facilitate, and empower—not to lead. We aim to help you create a tenant organization that can eventually operate independently.

Getting Started

The first step is simple: start talking with your neighbors. Form a small group, begin gathering contact info, and find a time and place to meet. Together, you can begin strategizing how to address the issues you’re facing.

Know Your Rights

You cannot be evicted for organizing.
Tenant organizing is protected by law. If your landlord attempts to evict you in response, you may be able to use retaliation as a legal defense. If successful, this protection can block eviction proceedings for up to a year. Visit our Know Your Rights page to learn more about Retaliatory Eviction protections.