Housing: landlord and tenants; right for water and sewer bill to be in tenant's name; provide for. Amends 1972 PA 348 (MCL 554.601 - 554.616) by adding sec. 1d.
Impact
The bill mandates that landlords must approve tenant requests related to water and sewer bills and implement the transfer within 60 days if requested. Furthermore, it requires that these costs be excluded from the rental payment, ensuring that tenants are not unfairly burdened. This reform could significantly alter practices related to rental agreements in Michigan, as tenants would gain more rights with respect to their utility usage and financial obligations, which could promote greater accountability among landlords.
Summary
Senate Bill 554 seeks to amend the 1972 Public Act 348, which regulates landlord-tenant relationships, by introducing provisions concerning water and sewer bills for tenants in metered or sub-metered rental premises. This bill allows tenants to request that the landlord either send copies of water and sewer bills to both parties or transfer the bills into the tenant's name. By doing so, it aims to provide tenants with more control over their utility bills and ensure that they receive accurate billing information directly, potentially improving transparency in rental agreements.
Contention
One notable point of contention surrounding SB 554 is the potential for abuse or retaliation by landlords against tenants who exercise their new rights. The bill explicitly prohibits landlords from discriminating or retaliating against tenants for making such requests, but concerns persist regarding how these protections will be enforced in practice. For example, if a landlord were to raise rents or cut off water access in retaliation, it could undermine the bill's intent and create an adversarial relationship between landlords and tenants. Thus, the effectiveness of this legislation may rely heavily on its enforcement mechanisms and tenant awareness of their rights.
Housing: landlord and tenants; right for water and sewer bill to be in tenant's name; provide for. Amends 1972 PA 348 (MCL 554.601 - 554.616) by adding sec. 1d.
Housing: landlord and tenants; right for water and sewer bill to be in tenant's name; provide for. Amends 1972 PA 348 (MCL 554.601 - 554.616) by adding sec. 1f.
Housing: landlord and tenants; reuse of certain tenant screening reports; allow. Amends title & sec. 1 of 1972 PA 348 (MCL 554.601) & adds secs. 1c, 1d, 1e & 1f.
Housing: landlord and tenants; acceptance of reusable screening report; provide for. Amends title & sec. 1 of 1972 PA 348 (MCL 554.601) & adds secs. 1c, 1d, 1e & 1f.
Housing: landlord and tenants; form containing summary of tenant's rights; require state court administrative office to provide. Amends 1978 PA 454 (MCL 554.631 - 554.641) by adding sec. 4a.
Housing: landlord and tenants; use of prospective tenant’s credit scores as a deciding factor for lease eligibility; prohibit. Amends 1972 PA 348 (MCL 554.601 - 554.616) by adding sec. 1c.
Civil rights: housing discrimination; housing discrimination based on source of income; prohibit. Amends 1972 PA 348 (MCL 554.601 - 554.616) by adding sec. 1d.
Housing: landlord and tenants; reuse of certain tenant screening reports; allow. Amends title & sec. 1 of 1972 PA 348 (MCL 554.601) & adds secs. 1e, 1f, 1g & 1h.