Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Ann Arbor

Find the right Tenant attorney in Ann Arbor, MI

Tenant Law in Michigan

Relations between tenants and landlords in Ann Arbor, Michigan can occasionally be touchy. The fact is that it's not easy to be a landlord or a tenant, particularly because landlords and tenants often don't understand the legal rights and responsibilities that apply to them.

Landlords and tenants have to navigate a web of legal rights and commitments. It's essential that the parties to a landlord/tenant relationship know what obligations they have to one another.

Landlord's Rights in Ann Arbor, MI

The most basic right that landlords have is the right to be paid the agreed-upon rent by their tenant. Obviously, renting apartments is how landlords earn a living, so they are entitled to collect the rent that the tenant agreed to pay.

Also, landlords have a right to be compensated for damage a tenant causes to a rented unit, either intentionally or negligently. Landlords have a right to deduct repair costs from tenants' security deposits, unless the damage was caused by usual wear and tear, for which tenants are not liable.

Tenant's Rights in Ann Arbor, MI

Much like landlords have a right to get paid for the service they provide, tenants have a right to get what they pay for: a suitable place to reside. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, all residential rental agreements carry an "implied warranty of habitability." This means that a landlord implicitly guarantees that any residence he or she rents will be fit for human habitation. In general, an unit will be automatically deemed uninhabitable if it lacks running water, electricity, heat, and acceptable protection from the elements. There are various more factors that can be considered, as well, but those are some of the basics.

Furthermore, tenants have rights to common areas that are free of physical obstructions, as well as serious health and safety hazards. Common areas are the places in apartment buildings and other residential complexes which every tenant can access, and include hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, these areas must be kept in a safe condition, at the landlord's expense.

A tenant also has a right, under federal law and the laws of Michigan to be free from discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, or gender. Landlords can also not discriminate against persons with disabilities, and must make reasonable accommodations for those disabilities.

And lastly, most state laws prevent landlords from arbitrarily evicting tenants. If the lease agreement is for a set period of time, the landlord generally can't evict the tenant until the lease expires, without a good reason. Valid causes for eviction include unpaid rent, illegal activities on the property, damage to the building caused by the tenant, and excessive noise.

Can a Ann Arbor, Michigan Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Tenants and landlords always want to avoid getting into any serious disputes - these disputes interfere with the tenant's living arrangement, and the landlord's business. In short, they help nobody. While a good Ann Arbor, Michigan attorney can definately help his or her client prevail in such a dispute, they may be more essential for their ability to help prevent such disputes from escalating in the first place.

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Life in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan is a city in Washtenaw County, of which it is also the county seat. Its current population is approximately 114,000 people, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan.

Ann Arbor was founded in 1824, and is perhaps best known for being the site of the University of Michigan. The University of Michigan is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the United States, and is generally considered one of the "public ivies" - public universities which are considered to be on par with the universities in the Ivy League. The University of Michigan is particularly well known for its law school, which is one of the top 14 law schools in the country. This school has produced thousands of extremely accomplished Ann Arbor, Michigan lawyers.

And thanks to the presence of a large university, Ann Arbor, Michigan has largely been spared the economic woes that have affected the rest of the state. The university employs a large number of people, and provides local businesses with a large customer base.

If you live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and are in need of legal services, there's a very good chance that there's an Ann Arbor, Michigan attorney who can help you.

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