Terms and Conditions

The Housing Information Office invites qualifying local rental property landlords to apply to the Off-Campus Housing Program. It is through our service to a large and diverse group of property owners and managers that we are able to remain an effective resource for landlords and for University of Michigan students, faculty and staff. However, we reserve the right to deny, suspend or terminate the registration of any landlord to whom we feel we cannot comfortably refer members of the University community.

Actions that may lead to refusal of registration or a change in registration status include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Using student tenant(s) leases, lease addenda, or other documents that have not been submitted to the Housing Information Office.
  
  
• Failure to cooperate with the Office's attempts to resolve a student tenant's concern through Mediation. This includes not responding in a reasonable time frame to contacts made by the Housing Information Office, Off-Campus Housing Program and/or the Off-Campus Housing Advisor.
  
  
• Failure to register rental units with the appropriate local agency or agencies. Failure to follow local, state, and/or federal laws regarding rental and business practices (such as Ann Arbor Housing Code, "Truth in Renting Act", Privacy Ordinance, nondiscrimination policies, security deposit laws, etc.).
  
  
• Placing unauthorized fliers or other solicitations in University residence halls, the Housing Office or other University property, or improperly soliciting University community members on University property.
  
  
• Any other acts, negligence, or practices, whether singular or in pattern, that we believe to be unfair to student tenants (e.g., failure to perform reasonable and timely maintenance, misrepresentation (by omission or commission) of units; failure to respond to tenant's calls, etc.).

The Housing Information Office does not wish to unfairly exclude the participation of any landlord. When it is necessary for the Office to reconsider the registration status of a landlord, we will, when possible, employ a series of steps intended to resolve the conflict at the least restrictive level. The quantity, type and severity of the concerns about the landlord will determine action taken by the Office. Individual decisions requiring the judgement of Office personnel will be made in each case. The steps taken by the Housing Information Office to resolve the conflict include:

• Investigation. When a concern is raised about a property owner or manager, we will contact that landlord for a response to the issue. We may also gather information from tenants and other sources.
  
  
• Warning. We may advise a landlord that additional instances or new concerns arising may lead to probation, suspension, or termination. The warning may be delivered orally or in writing.
  
  
• Probation. The Office will continue to supply advertising, leases, checklists, mediation and other assistance to the landlord, but may suspend registration if one or more concerns arise during the probation period. The probation period may last for the duration of the registration period in which probation was instituted and/or for the following registration period.
  
  
• Suspension. The Office will not provide advertising, forms or other services to a landlord whose registration has been suspended. We may be able to provide the advice and assistance concerning landlord/tenant conflicts at the landlord's request. We will expect the cooperation of the landlord if we contact him/her on behalf of a student tenant. The suspension period may last for the duration of the registration period in which it was instituted and/or for the following registration period.
  
  
• Termination. The ability of the landlord to register with the program will be terminated until such a time that the Housing Information Office wishes to reconsider returning the landlord to registered status. Again, the Housing Information Office wishes to maintain a cooperative Landlord Registration Program that works to the mutual benefit of landlords and members of the University Community.

If the Off-Campus Housing Program does not allow a landlord to register or continue to be registered in the program, then University of Michigan students, who are tenants of that landlord will not be allowed to post a Sublet ad or Rooms for Rent ad for their unit. Additionally, program staff will tell students trying to sublet or asking about the landlord's registration status that the landlord has not been allowed to register or continue to be registered, and that the student cannot advertise their space through the Off-Campus Program.

We are not eager to apply sanctions or to exclude participants. We will be happy to assist landlords who have questions about rental practices, landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, as well as expectations of the Off-Campus Housing Program.