Advocacy Update

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

Model Landlord and Tenant Legislation Released by ULC

The Uniform Law Commission (ULC) has released a revised version of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act for proposed adoption by every state in the U.S. The ULC is an organization made up of practicing lawyers, judges, legislators and law professors, all of whom are appointed by state governments. ULC seeks to draft model legislation for certain areas of critical state law in an effort to create uniformity and save states from the cost of preparing legislation themselves. The revised version of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act updates the original version released in 1972. Michigan is not considered a uniform law state but utilized parts of the 1972 model legislation as a basis for our state law affecting landlord tenant relationships. A work group will be convened in the months to come to compare current Michigan law to the newly revised model act and see what changes to Michigan law may be beneficial.

Mandatory Fire Signage Proposed

New legislation has been proposed in the Michigan House of Representatives which would mandate warning signage for most apartment buildings in Michigan. House Bill 4740 proposes that an owner of any commercial, industrial, or residential structure with 3 units or more that is of light-frame truss construction (i.e. wood trusses) would be required to mark the structure with a sign warning firefighters of the type of construction. The legislation calls for the Michigan Bureau of Fire Services to enact rules in support of this law, including the specific dimensions and design/color of the signs, the timeframe within which building owners would need to comply, and the location where the sign would be affixed. Building owners would be responsible for the cost of the signs. This legislation originated from the State of Florida, where a similar law has been on the books since 2009. Owners of light-truss constructed buildings in Florida are required to post red Maltese Cross signs that measure 8 inches by 8 inches within 24 inches to the left of any main entry door.

 

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