The Detroit Tenants Union is suing the 36th District Court in Michigan's Third Circuit Court, arguing that judges should not allow landlords to collect rent or evict tenants when properties lack certificates of compliance. The lawsuit represents the most direct path to compelling landlords to fix up their properties, as reported by Outlier Media. Currently, only 14% of Detroit's rentals are certified, with fewer than 12,000 of the estimated 85,000 rental properties having certificates of compliance. The Detroit Tenants Union's complaint argues that the 36th District Court cannot issue eviction judgments for properties that don't have a certificate, as the certificate is a legal requirement indicating a property has passed a city-run inspection.
First-time renters often underestimate the true cost of independent living, focusing solely on advertised rent while overlooking significant setup and recurring expenses. According to reports from Business Standard, moving costs extend well beyond the first month's rent, including security deposits, advance rent, moving services, utility connection charges, internet installation fees, and basic household purchases. Even small items such as cleaning products, kitchen utensils, waste bins, curtains, or light bulbs can quickly add up when purchased together. After moving in, recurring expenses include utilities like electricity, water, and gas, internet bills, mobile services, parking charges, renter's insurance, laundry costs, and household consumables. The Detroit housing crisis has highlighted these costs even more starkly, with many tenants facing unsafe living conditions while paying rent.
The key to budgeting success lies in separating essential purchases from deferrable expenses before moving. As reported by Business Standard, must-haves include a bed, basic cooking equipment, essential furniture, cleaning supplies, internet access, and utility connections needed for daily living from the first day. Deferrable purchases include decorative furniture, premium appliances, artwork, extra seating, or home décor that improve comfort but are not immediately necessary. The publication recommends avoiding borrowing for non-essential furniture or décor, as relying on high-interest credit cards or buy-now-pay-later plans for non-essential upgrades can increase monthly obligations long after the moving excitement fades. In Detroit, this distinction becomes critical as tenants face unsafe living conditions while paying for substandard housing.
The lawsuit's outcome could dramatically reshape Detroit's rental market, with Sean Tidwell, founder of development firm Tidwell Group, predicting that many rental businesses would collapse if tenants stopped paying rent en masse. "We already see a lot of these larger developments going into receivership," Tidwell said. "There's going to be much more, not just the larger developments, but a lot of these single-family, mom-and-pop investors." He added that bringing a single house up to code can cost $30,000-$40,000, forcing landlords to increase rents or face foreclosure. The next hearing is scheduled for September 21, when a judge could rule on the 36th District Court's request to dismiss the case. John Roach, Detroit's media relations director, acknowledged the city's enforcement challenges, stating there's little doubt that prohibiting rent collection or eviction without C of Cs will result in less available housing units and higher rents as landlords adjust.
The crisis has affected countless Detroit residents, with Alexis Hernandez's story illustrating the devastating consequences of unsafe housing. Hernandez, who moved to Detroit in 2021, paid $500 monthly rent but faced lengthy periods without heat or hot water, a ceiling leak that damaged her son's bedroom, and a lead hazard that caused her nine-month-old daughter to test high for lead in her blood. "If I had a crystal ball and knew all this stuff would have happened, I would not have moved here," Hernandez said. Her home lacked a certificate of compliance, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem. The Detroit Tenants Union argues that tenants should not be held hostage by threats that landlords might sell, raise rents, or leave if required to follow the law, emphasizing that safe housing cannot depend on whether accountability is profitable for landlords.
