Advocacy Update

Forrest WallWritten by Forrest Wall, CAE, Staff Vice President and Industry Relations

Governor Signs First Apartment Inspection Reform Bill

Governor Snyder has signed Senate Bill 394 (now Public Act 14 of 2016) into law. You will recall from my article last month that this was the first in a set of bills aimed at reforming the law covering local governmental inspections of residential rental property. Public Act 14 provides for the following amendments to the Housing Law of Michigan:

 

  • Include townships under the law so they are governed in the same way as cities and villages
  • Mandate that inspection fees shall not be required more than six months in advance of the inspection
  • And, removes the language mandating that a municipality inspect multifamily rental property, and replaces it with language stating that inspection is at the local government’s option, except in cases where there is a tenant complaint.

 

Special thanks go to Senator David Robertson (R-26th District), for his sponsorship of the legislation and leadership in advocating for its passage. Thanks also go to AAM President Allen Amber, who traveled to Lansing on multiple occasions in this process to attend work groups and testify before legislative committees.

AAM will now shift our attention to the next bill, which will address the resident right of permission for local government entry to inspect. Introduction of this bill is expected this month.

HUD Amends Inspection Protocol Relating To Bed Bugs

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced an amendment to its inspection protocol requirements to be followed by inspectors conducting Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) Inspections. Under the new protocol, inspectors will inspect all units in the sample, including those reported to have bed bugs. The previous policy required inspectors not to enter a unit where bed bugs were reported and instead choose a different unit to inspect. The change is based on research that found the likelihood of transfer of bed bugs to an inspector is remote. The new protocol also directs inspectors to report the presence of bed bugs at any property being inspected, but presence and bed bug treatment will not be scored in the inspection.

 

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