Councilman Kris Harsh Completes Inspection of Every Home in Ward 13

Jun 25, 2025

Councilman Kris Harsh has completed a comprehensive, street-level inspection of all 8,507 residential structures in his ward, making Ward 13 the first in Cleveland to undergo a proactive, door-to-door code housing survey by a Council member.

The initiative, which began shortly after Councilman Harsh took office, was designed to identify and address housing issues early—before they grow into larger problems—and to foster community pride through responsible property upkeep.

“I believe in code enforcement,” said Councilman Harsh. “I believe in this as a way to help people, and as a way to hold people accountable. It is vital to the long-term health of our community. The best way to prevent problems from growing is to identify them early and deal with them quickly.”

Of the 8,507 homes surveyed:

• 77% were in excellent condition and required no follow-up.
• 1,845 homes received letters about minor exterior issues such as peeling paint, fallen gutters, or lack of handrails. These letters offered guidance but were not escalated to city enforcement.
• 115 properties were flagged for major issues. Owners were asked to submit a remediation plan within 30 days. Several of these cases were later referred to the Department of Building and Housing.

Councilman Harsh, who has a background in housing, conducted the inspections personally, evaluating only what was visible from the public right-of-way. He tailored the outreach to each property owner, sending letters that ranged from thank-you notes to firm requests for correction. For rental properties, letters were sent to the addresses listed for tax purposes, ensuring landlords were informed of the condition of their investments.

More than 100 residents received printed or emailed guides to more than a dozen home-repair programs. The initiative has already led to a near return to pre-pandemic rates of residential permit applications in Ward 13.

Out-of-State Landlords Underperform
The survey also highlighted stark differences in property conditions based on ownership:

• Out-of-area landlords own just 6.3% of Ward 13 homes but are responsible for 13% of major violations and 9.9% of minor ones.
• These absentee owners were 2.75 times more likely to have major issues compared to local owners.

“Too many out-of-state opportunists prey on low-value sections of our city,” Councilman Harsh said. “They usually put little investment into the property and focus solely on rent collection. This type of investor is a pox on Cleveland—and code enforcement can be our vaccine.”

Despite the challenges, the Councilman said many landlords, including investors from California, Texas, and Columbus, responded positively—and began repairs immediately.



A Model for the Entire City

The success of Ward 13’s proactive approach has drawn interest across Cleveland. Harsh has called for a citywide initiative and previously advocated reallocating City Hall staff to expand the Department of Building and Housing’s exterior inspection efforts.

“This work shows that systematic, fair code enforcement is possible and impactful,” Harsh said. “It preserves our neighborhoods, boosts housing values, and sends a message that we care about our community. This is an investment in the next generation.”

For more information or to request a copy of the Home Repair Resource Guide, contact Councilman Harsh at kharsh@clevelandcitycouncil.org or call 216-664-2943.