A judge at Washtenaw County's 22nd Circuit Court issued an order requiring immediate repairs and prohibiting the collection of rent for current tenants at the Arbor One apartment complex.
The order was requested by the city of Ypsilanti and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office and issued by Judge Carol Kuhnke.
Arbor One is prohibited from demanding rent until all of its units have obtained a Certificate of Compliance, according to the order. In addition, any tenants who wish to break their lease must be repaid all rent paid from Sept. 17, 2024, through the present.
The court order is part of a lawsuit jointly filed by the city of Ypsilanti and the Washtenaw County prosecutor's office against New Jersey-based real estate operator.
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There were many alleged violations, including of the Housing Law of Michigan and the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The alleged violations included "furnaces and boilers that were in poor or inoperable conditions, forcing families to use kitchen ovens for heat; leaking, rusted, and broken pipes, drains, and plumbing fixtures; water damage which has caused collapsing ceilings and mold growth; and insect and vermin infestations."
"Every family has a right to live in a home that is safe," Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit said in a written statement on the ruling.
The following requirements are stipulated in the court order:
- The landlords must make necessary health-and-safety-related repairs, as well as urgently make permanent repairs.
- Arbor One must cease all demands for rent until the rental home has a Certificate of Compliance with rental laws.
- Arbor One is prohibited from leasing to new prospective tenants.
- Any tenant of Arbor One has the option to leave, though none will be forced to leave by the court.
- For any tenant who wishes to leave, Arbor One must provide alternative temporary shelter and/or provide moving assistance.
- For any tenant taking the option to break their lease, Arbor One must return the security deposit and rent from Sept. 17, 2024, through the present. Half of that money is to be paid upon request, and the remaining half will be paid when the tenant leaves their apartment.
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Tenants at Arbor One with questions about potential legal proceedings should contact Legal Services of South Central Michigan through this online form.
