Court order protects Ypsilanti renters living in condemned apartment complex
Tenants at Arbor One apartment complex in Ypsilanti are finally getting some relief after living in condemned units for months.
It comes in the form of a court order forcing the landlords to get units back into livable condition while also keeping them from collecting any more rent from those living in them.
The landlords are also barred from renting any condemned units out to new tenants before they receive a new certificate of occupancy.
The order doesn't require tenants to leave, but it gives them good reason to do so. Tenants can request to be relocated to a new complex at the expense of Arbor One, and they can also terminate their rental agreements entirely. If they choose the latter, Arbor One must pay them any security deposit or rent payments made since Sept. 17, 2024, when the complex lost its certificate of compliance.
"I feel like finally, we have the city and the county behind us. We need stuff to get done, and we need people to get relocated to safe and fair housing," said Arbor One Tenant Union member Roy Finny.
The goal of this preliminary injunction is to require Arbor One to make the apartments safe and up to code before any new tenants can move in. It also bars the apartment complex from asking for any rent from anyone who wants to stay and wait out the repairs, but one tenant says she's still being asked.
"Despite the court order, I got a text message yesterday asking me to pay for my rent, and that I have a past due in my ledger. So they are not complying, they refuse to comply. I don't know what to say," said one tenant who wished not to be identified for fear of retaliation.
Others on the property said the office is dragging its feet when tenants try to end their rental agreement. The order gives tenants this right and also requires Arbor One to return any security deposits or rent paid since they lost their certificate of compliance in September.
"It provides them their rent back starting when these certificate of compliances were revoked back in September," said Andrew Hellenga, Ypsilanti City Manager. "It also provides movement assistance, so if they determine they would like to leave, then the owner of Arbor One must pay for those expenses."
CBS News Detroit has reached out to property management Beal Properties for comment. They're not named in the lawsuit, but they did respond saying:
"At Beal Real Estate we always do things the right way and encourage those we work with to also do so. While our organization is not a party to the lawsuit and order, and our organization was not ordered to do anything, we will ask our client who is the owner to follow it, and help our client to do so in a supportive roll. It is important to note that the order applies to only 75% of the property, and doesn't apply to those living in Ypsilanti Township, where we have already passed 156 COC inspections. It is also important to note that much of what was ordered we were already doing and we will continue to do so,"-Stewart Beal.
Any tenants who feel Arbor One is not complying with the court order are asked to take their claims to for help.
