Local Legislation Update

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Ypsilanti City to change Zoning

Ypsilanti Township- Potential for a change in Eviction Procedures

Requiring Landlord to provide moveable containers during the eviction to deposit a tenant's personal property in order to prevent the unsightly appearance of personal property deposited on open land and exposed to the elements and it requires that landlords remove the storage containers within 48 hours of the eviction.  First reading was in March and it is waiting for second reading for public comment.  Please contact the Ypsilanti Township Board to give an opinion.

Ann Arbor - Water Rate Billing increase

The City of Ann Arbor has increased the rates on each tier of water that is consumed (April 2005).  These process will have a significant impact on the duplexes, triplexes and quad unit buildings since they will always be billed at the highest rate.  We are working with the Ann Arbor Utilities department to determine if there is an appropriate way of allowing these smaller units to always be considered at the lower rates since they do not have large families.  Please let the Legislative Committee know if you are going to be significantly impacted by this change.

Ann Arbor - Early Lease Signing Restrictions

8:530.  Entry to show premises and time for rental agreements.

(1)   Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, a landlord of residential premises shall not:

(a)   Enter the leased premises for the purpose of showing the premises to prospective tenants until 70 days of the current lease period has passed; or

(b)   Enter into an agreement to rent the leased premises to another tenant for a subsequent lease period until 70 days of the current lease period has passed.

(2)   This section does not apply under any of the following conditions:

(a)   The entry is for the purpose of subletting;

(b)   The current lease period is less than 9 months in its entirety;

(c)   A summons and complaint to recover possession of the premises has been filed and served on the current tenant in accordance with all laws and rules applicable to summary proceedings to recover possession of premises;

(d)   The tenant, of his or her own will, has terminated his or her occupancy of the leased premises and his or her right under the lease to possession of the premises.

(3)   Except as otherwise provided in this section, at the time of entering into a written lease agreement a landlord shall provide to each tenant a copy of this entire Code section separate from the written lease agreement, until such time that this ordinance is incorporated into the "Rights and Duties of Tenants" booklet.

(4)   If there is no written lease, then the landlord shall provide a copy of this entire code section, upon which is written the term of the current unwritten lease, to each tenant, until such time that this ordinance is incorporated into the "Rights and Duties of Tenants" booklet.

(5)   A violation of this section shall be a civil infraction punishable by a civil fine of up to $1,000.00, plus costs and all other remedies available by statute.

(Ord. No. 7-06, § 1, 3-20-06; Ord. No. 08-01, § 1, 1-22-08)

Howell City Inspection Ordinance

Howell passed an ordinance requiring all rental housing providers to register their rental housing for free as long as it is done within the prescribed time frame and then a penalty fee if it is not.  After that they have the right to inspect rental housing on a complaint basis.  There is no periodic inspection set up.