UM Off-Campus Housing Tenants & Landlords

Housing Inspections

Home > Off Campus Housing > Community Resources > Housing Inspections

In order to make sure that off-campus rental units are kept in safe and habitable condition, the City of Ann Arbor conducts regular inspections. These inspections usually occur every 2 1/2 years, but they can occur sooner if there is a complaint or other issue raised with the property.

Click here for some of the code requirements often not met.

The inspections are carried out by the Housing Bureau, which derives its authority from the City Code, Chapter 105 (8:511). (Read Chapter 105) The purpose of this page is to give you some insight as to what happens when an inspection occurs, how you can facilitate the process and what to do if you feel there is an urgent issue.

The key aspects of the inspection process are to ascertain safety, health and general maintenance of the property.

What Happens:
A notice of inspection will be mailed to the landlord of the building when it comes due for inspection, shortly before the current Certificate of Compliance (or "CO") is set to expire, asking that the landlord set up an appointment with a housing inspector. The landlord normally will coordinate scheduling with the tenants. If you need any additional information, you can call the Housing Bureau at 794-6267.

While you do have the legal right to refuse entry to the inspector, the Housing Bureau can obtain and execute a search warrant. If you require special arrangements, please contact your landlord or the Housing Bureau, as appropriate, ahead of time. When the inspector arrives, he/she will be looking for things that constitute violations of the Housing Code or related city ordinances. Examples include:

Number of occupants exceeds zoning capacity
Rooms used for sleeping without required access to exits
Insect infestations
Insufficient heat
Fire/safety hazards
Smoke detectors not working properly

I f a violation is noted, a notice will be issued in writing to the landlord, who will be given up to 60 days to correct the deficiency. If the violations have not been fixed within the time specified, time extensions must be requested by the landlord or an appeal filed with the Housing Board of Appeals for additional time to fix the problem.

Once the property has been certified to be free of deficiencies, a Certificate of Compliance will be granted. This certificate is good for 30 months from the time of the previous certificate's expiration, after which time the process starts anew.

In general, the inspection fees are paid by the property owner/manager (landlord); however in certain circumstances, they can be charged to a complainant.

Filing a Complaint:
There is a process through which you should go if you feel an additional inspection is necessary. This requires:

Call the Housing Bureau at 994-2678
You will be asked if you've brought the matter to the attention of your landlord. It is always a good idea to contact your landlord before filing a complaint.
Even if you haven't contacted your landlord, you may file a complaint over the phone. Be specific: List the exact location and nature of each problem, thoroughly enough that the inspector will be able to find it even if you're not home. Your name will be kept confidential, according to city code.
You will be asked to schedule an appointment with an inspector. Normally, it's best if you're able to accompany the inspector when he or she is present, though your landlord can request that you not do so.
The landlord will be notified of the appointment. He/she will not be told who called.
An inspector will come, according to the process above.
In most cases, your landlord will be charged for the additional inspections, if required.

If a Certificate is revoked:
The current tenants will be notified by the city. They may have additional legal rights, but should secure professional legal advice before taking any steps against the landlord, especially regarding further occupancy of the unit. If you have questions, you can call the Off-Campus Housing Office at 763-3205 or Student Legal Services at 763-9920.


	Search for Housing UMich People