The City of Topeka is actively addressing ongoing concerns regarding overflowing dumpsters and property maintenance violations at multiple properties owned by a local landlord. Despite previous engagement and citations issued by the city’s Property Maintenance Unit, the property owner failed to clean up the affected sites within the allotted timeframe.
As of Tuesday, December 31, 14 of the 34 originally cited properties remain in violation. In response, the City of Topeka’s Property Maintenance Unit began a coordinated cleanup effort at 8:00 a.m. All trash and rubbish will be removed and properly disposed of at the Green Point C and D Processing Center throughout the week. The costs associated with this cleanup will be charged to the property owner, Eucalyptus LLC. Properties that lack the required dumpsters have been cited, and criminal affidavits for these violations will also be processed.
The city recognizes that some tenants may be hesitant to report property maintenance issues, such as overflowing dumpsters or unsafe living conditions, due to fear of retaliation or eviction. To address these concerns, the Topeka City Council strengthened its retaliatory eviction ordinance in May 2024. This ensures that residents can assert their right to a clean, safe, and sanitary home without fear of repercussions.
Residents can find more information about their rights under city ordinance and resources for addressing retaliatory actions by visiting the City of Topeka’s Property Maintenance Division website: https://www.topeka.org/tpd/property-maintenance-division/retaliatory-eviction/.
Tenants and community members are encouraged to report property maintenance concerns to the City of Topeka’s Property Maintenance Division by calling 785-368-3161, using the SeeClickFix app, or emailing propertymaintenance@topeka.org
