GEO’s Housing Caucus was started in 2020 after several GEO members realized that they all were facing the same problems as tenants. From sky-high rents for low-quality units, to being pressured to renew our leases mere weeks after moving into our units, the rental situation in Ann Arbor had serious problems.
Members found that a staggering 90% of surveyed graduate students had felt pressured to renew their lease before they were ready. It was common practice for landlords to present tenants with an ultimatum barely 2 months after move-in: “make a decision to renew within 24-hours, or not all” and threaten to show the apartment to prospective tenants if they refused. Consequently, Housing Caucus members’ first campaign was to amend Ann Arbor’s “Early Leasing Ordinance” to prohibit landlords from showing our units to others or signing leases with new tenants for the first 210 days of the lease. After a significant pressure campaign on City Hall—including hundreds of petition signatures and conversations with renters, op-eds, and speeches at Council meetings—the proposed changes were passed.
Housing Caucus members then led a year-long campaign to pressure City Council to pass a ‘Right-to-Renew’ for Ann Arbor renters. This first-in-Michigan protection requires landlords to renew their tenants’ leases or pay them to cover relocation fees. Renters have a right to stay in their homes and not be evicted by non-renewal at the whim of their landlords. After significant pressure from Housing Caucus members and other local tenant activists, City Council passed this critical ordinance.
Join the Housing Caucus
The Housing Caucus is made up of GEO members and community allies working to fight for the rights of tenants on campus, in Ann Arbor, and in surrounding communities. If you are interested in joining our next meeting, email housingchair@geo3550.org! Our on-going projects include working with individual members to resolve housing issues, advocating for tenant protections in collaboration with other community groups, and other issue-specific campaigns.
Local Tenants Unions, Associations, and Resources!
Ann Arbor Tenants Union
Webpage: annarbortenants.org
Intake survey: bit.ly/AATU
McKinley Tenants Association
Webpage: https://mckinleytenantsassociation.org/
Intake survey: bit.ly/AATU
General Resources
Tenants facing issues with their landlord are welcome to contact the Housing Caucus – we can help you advocate for your own rights and navigate existing resources. Some of the existing resources for tenants include:
- Student Legal Services Housing Attorney
- Ann Arbor Rights and Duties of Tenants + Right to Renew additionIf your landlord is pressuring to renew your lease early, this may be a violation of the right to renew – please fill out the city complaint form to document this
- How to ask for your security deposit: twitter thread
- If your apartment is not compliant with city or county health or building codes (mold, pests, standing water, etc.):
- Washtenaw County health department
- City of Ann Arbor rental and housing services