MSU’s undergraduate student government is looking to prevent East Lansing landlords from jumping the gun on leases next year.
ASMSU has plans underway to present an ordinance that would prohibit landlords from showing an apartment to prospective tenants or forcing renewal of a lease until one-third of the lease has passed.
The ordinance will be presented to the East Lansing City Council in January
Landlords can show and advertise the apartments anytime.
Despite hearing student concerns on the issue, the student government almost did not take action.
“We heard complaints before, but it is something that we did not initially plan on addressing,” said Joe Mignano, ASMSU director of community affairs.
Inspiration for the project came from the student government officials at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Associated Students of Madison got a similar measure passed for their community in October.
“We think it is very important to protect tenant privacy rights across the country,” said Mike Dean, Associated Students of Madison chairperson, on discussing the issue with representatives from other universities.
Due to the other university’s success, Mignano decided to give ASMSU’s ordinance a similar base.
“Madison’s is the best and most comprehensive one to follow right now,” Mignano said.
In addition to the one-third policy, Mignano also intends on adding a measure that gives tenants the first right of refusal, which prevents landlords from leasing apartments for the next year without asking the current tenant if they want to renew their contract.
However, before any proceedings can take place, the ordinance will be examined and researched by city attorneys to ensure it does not coincide with any state laws, said Annette Irwin, operations administrator with code enforcement for the city of East Lansing.
“There is still a lot of work to be researched,” said Irwin, who is working with Mignano on establishing the initial steps of the ordinance. “I think we will know a lot more in the next few weeks.”
Because it is early in the process, reactions are unsure, Irwin said.
“No one else has talked about it, that I am aware of,” she said. “It is hard to say whether it will be a big problem or not.”
Yet, Mignano said he anticipates some problems.
“Like Madison’s, there may be some negative feedback from the landlords,” Mignano said. “I don’t understand how the landlords would have any objections since their houses are going to be filled anyway.”
Mignano said he plans to garner support from the East Lansing University Student Commission and Housing Commission as well as MSU students.
If approved by the two bodies, the ordinance can be approved by the city council.
“Hopefully, it can reach the city council in mid-to-late January, but, in reality, it will probably will not be voted on until February,” Mignano said.
