Renting in Ann Arbor? It has some of Michigan's strongest tenant protections

Ann Arbor has long been one of the most tenant-friendly cities in Michigan — which matters whether you’re renting a place or buying one to rent out. A few things set it apart. First, the city inspects every rental: a landlord can’t legally lease a unit unless it has a current “Certificate of Compliance” from the city’s Rental Housing Services, and units are inspected on a regular cycle. Second, and more unusual, Ann Arbor limits how early a landlord can pressure tenants to re-sign. Under the city’s “Right to Renew” ordinance (which replaced the older “Early Leasing Ordinance”), a landlord generally can’t even offer a renewal until well into your current lease — currently 180 days in — and in most cases must offer you the chance to renew rather than push you out, or pay you two months’ rent in relocation help. The goal is to take the pressure out of a famously frantic, student-driven rental market. The city has also capped rental application fees (currently $50, refundable if you’re not offered the unit), banned various pre-lease “holding” fees, and passed a Fair Chance ordinance that stops landlords from screening applicants out based on criminal history. These rules change fairly often, so check the city’s current Rental Housing rules — but the bottom line is Ann Arbor regulates rentals more tightly than most Michigan communities.