Two free workshops coming up at the Lawrence Public Library will help residents navigate from renting to buying housing.
Tenants to Homeowners will host a Homebuyer Workshop designed to walk prospective buyers through the steps of purchasing a home. Kansas Legal Services will present “Know Your Rights: Tenant-Landlord Law 101,” a session that breaks down the Kansas Residential Tenant-Landlord Act and explains protections for renters.
The Homebuyer Workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vermont St. Registration is required at this link.
The workshop covers core topics for anyone considering homeownership in Lawrence, including:
• Steps to buying a home, from budgeting to pre-approval
• How credit scores affect loan options and interest rates
• Types of mortgage loans available and what lenders want to see for pre-approval
• Tips for home maintenance
• An overview of Tenants to Homeowners’ Home Purchase program and other local resources, such as Lawrence Habitat for Humanity.
Participants who complete the workshop will receive a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved workshop certificate, which is a requirement for enrollment in TTH’s Home Purchase Program.
Another homebuyer workshop is set for Wednesday, Oct. 14, and registration is available at the same link.
Kansas Legal Services will present “Know Your Rights: Tenant-Landlord Law 101” from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium.
An attorney from Kansas Legal Services will break down the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, explaining how renters can protect themselves against unfair, discriminatory and unlawful property management practices.
The session will also cover landlord duties to maintain habitable conditions, tenant responsibilities, security deposit rules, entry and notice requirements, and options for documenting problems and seeking remedies. A Q&A will follow the presentation.
The event is free and open to the public. Read about last year’s session at this link.
If local news matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat — get the latest news from the Times delivered to your inbox:
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
Read her complete bio here. Read her work for the Times at this link, and see her photography for the Times at this link.
Resources for renters and tenants
Tenant issues and rights:
• Read about the rights Kansas tenants have and issues that could come up before, during and after tenancy from Kansas Legal Services.
• Find more info and connect with Lawrence Tenants.
Evictions:
• Learn about the eviction process from the Kansas Judicial Branch at this link.
• Check out the self-help page on the Douglas County District Court’s website at dgcoks.gov/district-court/self-help for resources and helpful forms.
• Find the Kansas Judicial Branch’s eviction expungement portal online at this link.
City of Lawrence fair housing help:
• Find information about the city’s fair housing civil rights enforcement procedures and a form to initiate a complaint on the city’s website at lawrenceks.org/attorney/fairhousing, or call 785-832-3310.
Rental assistance:
• Apply for help from the Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative via the county’s website at this link.
• Apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, LIEAP, at this link during colder months to help cover home energy costs.
• Find more resources to help with rent and utility payments on the Lawrence Public Library’s website.
News coverage:
• See the latest articles from The Lawrence Times on the following topics: homelessness and housing; renter rights; source of income discrimination; affordable housing; tenant right to counsel
