The New Haven skyline. (Courtesy Photo / Public Domain / Charles Barneby)

Some of New Haven’s residential landlords came in for heavy criticism at a recent mayoral candidate forum.

The four candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for mayor, incumbent Toni Harp, former East Rock/Cedar Hill Alder Justin Elicker, local philanthropist Wendy Hamilton and housing activist Urn Pendragon, all outlined plans to better regulate absentee landlords who fail to maintain their properties and who rack up code violations, according to The New Haven Independent. While most of the candidates called for increased enforcement of current regulations and laws, Pendragon called for criminal prosecutions and the use of eminent domain against landlords with too many violations.

Two tenants died in a recent fire at an unlicensed rooming house, which the city had failed to adequately inspect. The city currently only has four inspectors to monitor its tens of thousands of rental properties. The city is looking to revamp its licensing and inspection process.