Petition for Right to Renew in Detroit

Started on Monday, 01.16.2023

by the Detroit Tenants Association

Endorsed by:

Moratorium NOW! Coalition 

Detroit Will Breathe

Communist Party USA Michigan

Detroit YCL

Michigan General Defense Committee

We The People - MI

Detroit Eviction Defense

General Baker Institute

Party for Socialism and Liberation - Detroit

Detroit Action

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Renters Deserve the Right to Renew our Leases and Protection from Unjust Evictions

We, the renters and residents of Detroit, implore members of the Detroit City Council to give renters the right to renew their leases and protection from unjust eviction, by passing a Right to Renew Ordinance with Good Cause protections.

The Right to Renew Ordinance would require that landlords offer lease renewal terms to current tenants before seeking out new tenants, unless there is “good cause” not to. If for any reason a landlord violates such a law, the landlord will owe the tenant relocation assistance payment.

The additional Good Cause protections would impede unjust evictions by prohibiting landlords from ending a tenancy, except in cases of “good cause” such as lease violations, failure to pay rent, or other infractions; and also a “right-to-return” after any renovations.

Further explanation

Detroit rental laws currently inadequately protect the housing security of renters who across the city face the threat of displacement.

There was a time, not long ago, when the only people who wanted to live and rent in Detroit were long time Detroiters. There were more rentals available than people who wanted to rent them. Tenants were sought by landlords, and landlords were happy just to have good, paying, stable tenants. That time is over.

Now, everybody wants to live in Detroit. There are more people seeking rentals here than ever before and this new strong demand presents landlords the opportunity for increased income. Landlords are no longer happy just to have good, paying, stable tenants. They want to maximize their profit. An easy way to do this is for a landlord to simply not renew a tenants lease at the end of the term, at which point the tenant can be easily and legally evicted.

Also, the option to not renew a tenants lease is being used by landlords more and more as a form of legal retaliation. Tenants who might dare to raise maintenance issues and demand repairs, or those who engage their legal right to organize any efforts to hold landlords accountable; in these cases, it is easy for a landlord to retaliate by simply not renewing a lease and executing a legal eviction.

Furthermore, any Detroit renter that is not currently on a lease is considered an “at will” tenancy. Meaning that with the current tenant laws, this tenant can be evicted at any time, for any reason. Or, no reason at all.

This is why we demand a Right to Renew Ordinance that includes Good Cause protections.

Our housing security should not be based on the moral compass of our landlords. We demand protection from all evictions based solely on greed and retaliation.

Renters should be given the right to renew their leases if they so choose, and be able to live free from the threat of an unjust eviction.

As City Council Members, each of you has the power to propose new city ordinances as well as to make revisions to existing ones. We ask you to support renters rights by instituting a Right to Renew Ordinance with Good Cause protections.

We hope that when given the opportunity, you vote yes to give Detroit renters a Right to Renew Ordinance with Good Cause protections.

Proposed Legislation

Applicability

This article shall apply to all housing accommodations except premises otherwise subject to regulation of rents or evictions pursuant to state or federal law, to the extent that such state or federal law requires “good cause” for termination or non-renewal of such tenancies. This article shall not apply to fraternity houses, sorority houses, or student cooperative housing.

Renewal of Lease

If a landlord does not make a good-faith offer to renew a written lease for each tenant before the end of the current lease period, the landlord shall pay relocation assistance as set forth below, unless the landlord has “good cause” to not offer renewal.

Relocation Assistance

The Relocation Assistance payment should be equal to two month’s rent.

Good Cause Protection

Prohibits landlords from ending a tenancy, except in cases of “good cause” such as lease violations, failure to pay rent, or other infractions.

*This proposed legislation may be further amended. However, the fundamental principle will remain the same. A “Right to Renew,” would require landlords to offer a lease renewal to current tenants or compensate them for relocation. Good Cause Protections would prohibit landlords from ending a tenancy, except in cases of “good cause.”

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