Is Your Rental Keeping You Warm?
You should be able to control the heat in your rental so that it meets a minimum temperature level. Here is the Housing Code which addresses this issue:

8:506 Heating Facilities
Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed and are maintained in a safe and good working condition. The facilities shall be capable of, upon the tenant’s request or control, supplying heat to a temperature of at least 68’F, but not more than 85’F, for all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet compartments, when the outdoor temperature is as low as -10’F. The temperature shall be measured in the center of the room three feet above floor level. The heating unit shall be separately enclosed in multiple dwellings. If the apartment or dwelling unit is cited by the department because it will not maintain the required temperature, without portable heaters, three times during a heating season, corrective action of a permanent nature shall be implemented (storm windows, additional heating capacity, insulation, etc.). When owners use temporary heating to maintain the required temperature, the owner shall pay a prorated amount of the bill that the tenant pays for the other energy source used for heating.

Notify your landlord or maintenance office immediately if your rental is not maintaining adequate heat, based on Housing Code 8:506 (above). If you fail to report a heat shortage, you may be considered responsible if the pipes freeze, which often leads to very costly problems, such as the pipes bursting and the rental flooding. If your heat isn’t working adequately and your landlord has not responded to fix the problem, you can contact the Ann Arbor Building Department (734-994-2678). The Building Department oversees the Housing Codes, It will inspect your rental and follow up with your landlord to see that problems are fixed.

Getting Through The Snow
Is it spelled out in your lease who is responsible for shoveling the snow and salting the ice? If the job is yours, the lease will say so and the landlord will probably provide you with a snow shovel and some salt. If it isn’t stated in your lease that it is not your responsibility, your landlord is to make arrangements to have the walkways, steps and driveways cleared. Here is the Housing Code which addresses this issue:

8:509(9)c Exterior Areas
All snow and ice which has accumulated prior to 6 AM on a private sidewalk used for entrance or exit, maintenance of the building, or garbage disposal shall be removed by 2:30 of the same day. Immediately after the accumulation of ice on such sidewalks, it shall be treated with sand or other substance to prevent it from being slippery. Parking lots (as defined in Chapter 59) shall have snow removed from the parking areas and designated pedestrian areas within 24 hours of cessation of the snow fall when the snow reaches a depth of 3 inches or greater.

Notify your landlord or maintenance office if you have ice and/or snow accumulation in your entrance/exit ways. This is a safety hazard that should be addressed before the accumulation grows. If your lease doesn’t state that it’s your responsibility to keep the access ways clear and your landlord hasn’t taken care of it, you have several options. You can notify the landlord that you will do the work yourself and deduct from your rent the cost for a shovel and salt. Some local kids earn money by shoveling walkways and can be hired for $5-20 to do the job. Notify your landlord before you use this option. Another option if the snow and ice have accumulated and your landlord has not responded is to contact the Ann Arbor Building Department (734-994-2674). As with heating in your rental, the Building Department will inspect whether there is a Housing Code violation and, if so, will notify your landlord so the problem is fixed.

Helpful hints for finding a sublet or subtenant
Look and/or advertise now.

Be willing to negotiate the rent

. Most subtenants do not expect to pay 100% of the rent. The tenant is responsible to pay the difference. Some sublet their room or apartment for 80% of the monthly rent. Many summer sublets rent for close to 50% of usual rent.

Get the landlord’s consent before you sublease. Most require this and say so on their lease. Many will not approve a sublease unless the prospective subtenant goes through the same approval process as required by the landlord for the prime tenants. This stamp of approval gives you some assurance that your subtenant has the ability to pay his/her portion of the rent. It also assures that the subtenant will enjoy the same rights as the primary tenant, such as being let into the apartment by the landlord if he/she becomes locked out.

Discuss with your roommates your intent to sublet your space. Let them know that you will be showing your rental to prospective subtenants and ask for their cooperation with keeping things uncluttered and taking phone messages from those who call to inquire in response to your advertising.

Use the resources available at the Housing Information Office. We will provide you with the sublease agreement form (sublease), and the inventory checklist (property damage report to be completed by you and your subtenant).

Consult with your property owner/manager about whether they have any procedure in place for helping you find a subtenant. Some larger management companies provide this service for their tenants.

Make sure every subtenant has a copy of the current lease. Even though the subtenant is not named on the original lease, he/she is still responsible for upholding the tenant responsibilities outlined in the lease and in any lease addenda.

Contact the Off-Campus Housing Advisor to discuss conflict resolution services at (734-763-3205), also located at the Housing Information Office, if you have difficulties regarding your sublet that you are struggling to resolve (e.g., collecting rent or damages).