East Lansing ordinance would prevent landlords from renting units out too shortly. There’s a catch.

By Stone Andrews On Jun 10, 2021

EAST LANSING, Michigan – East Lansing City Council has enacted an ordinance preventing landlords from renting or showing a unit for at least 150 days after a rental period begins, but it will only come into effect if Meridian Township and Lansing were previously similar Law enacted August.

Mikayla Temple, WSYM, 2021.

The Meridian Twp. Congregational Buildings at 5151 Marsh Road.

“We just have to bring it to the table at Meridian in Lansing,” said East Lansing Mayor Aaron Stephens.

The ordinance was presented to the city council by ASMSU, Michigan State University’s student government, after many students tried to get out of their leases after classes went online during the pandemic.

“I don’t think we’ve seen anything like this last year, with hundreds and thousands of students trying to figure out how to get out of leases or get into better situations because they had no idea what to expect next Year, ”said Stephens.

Stephens said the rental renewal schedule was getting earlier each year.

“If I say early on that I’m not speaking half of your lease, or even a third of your lease, I might speak a month or two later,” he said.

The city council voted three to two in favor of the ordinance that would put the 150-day deadline into effect. Stephens said Meridian Township and Lansing need to adopt something similar for this ordinance to work.

“While we like to think that we are close and dear to all MSU students in East Lansing, that’s not necessarily true,” said Stephens. “There is a large student body living in Meridian Township. Many students live in the city of Lansing. “

Meridian Township Trustee Dan Opsommer confirmed the community was drafting a similar ordinance, but said it was too early in the process to release further details.

Lansing Communications Director Valarie Marchand said there had been no discussion of a similar regulation in Lansing.

Stephens said the ordinance would not affect tenants who are not students.

“The rental properties in the north or south of Lansing will not really be affected, and certainly not the properties in Meridian Township that are not suitable for students,” said Stephens.

If the surrounding cities don’t enact similar ordinances, Stephens says they won’t give up.

“We want to see informed renters, we want informed adults to make decisions that will be beneficial to them, not that will be antagonistic,” said Stephens. “So this measure is important.”

If Lansing and Meridian Township fail to pass similar ordinances by August 10, East Lansing will be canceled.

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