Michigan Legislature Advances Tenant Empowerment Package to Address Housing Concerns
The Michigan Legislature is pushing forward a legislative initiative known as the Tenant Empowerment Package, designed to enhance tenant rights and ensure safer living conditions. This initiative comes in response to increasing issues with rental housing maintenance.
The package is comprised of four distinct bills:
- Senate Bills 19 and 20 empower tenants to withhold rent or deduct repair costs from their rent if landlords do not address safety-related repairs within 48 hours.
- Senate Bill 21 mandates that landlords give a 90-day notice before increasing rent upon lease renewal.
- Senate Bill 22 allows for the electronic return of security deposits.
Proponents of the package assert that these measures will not only empower tenants but also improve Michigan’s aging housing infrastructure. “This bill is really making sure that we are targeting and holding accountable those who are bad actors,” stated Remy Gelderloos, deputy chief of staff for state Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), one of the bill sponsors.
Gelderloos emphasized the balance the 48-hour repair window aims to achieve, noting, “This is critical to someone’s life and safety,” while also acknowledging the practical challenges faced by landlords and property managers in addressing maintenance issues.
There is growing concern over the condition of rental properties across Michigan, with numerous properties in Lansing having been “red-tagged” due to safety violations. “We’re seeing similar things across the state,” Gelderloos noted, highlighting the broader implications for the state’s housing crisis.
The bills also include provisions for landlords to resolve mold and pest problems within a 72-hour timeframe. Having passed through committee, the Tenant Empowerment Package now awaits a full Senate vote.
—
Read More Michigan News
