Detroit Apartment Building Stopped From Evicting 80 Tenants

DETROIT, MI — A Detroit apartment building has been stopped from illegally evicting 80 tenants, most of whom are reportedly elderly, during the coronavirus outbreak.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Thursday announced in a news release that the building's management threatened to evict the tenants because they were behind on their rent payments.

Nessel sent a cease and desist letter to the company overseeing the Jeffersonian Apartment, 9000 E. Jefferson Ave., after reports that the company violated an executive order signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer that prohibits the removal of tenants from a leased home in situations outside of the person posing a substantial risk.

“People cannot be evicted from their homes during this public emergency except under extreme circumstances as outlined in the Governor’s executive orders,” Nessel said. “The fact that a landlord would threaten to kick out tenants – especially senior citizens – during this situation shows not only a disregard for the laws governing this state during the COVID-19 crisis, but a lack of compassion for our fellow Michiganders. We must remain committed to working together through this pandemic, and that starts by having empathy and respect for our neighbors.”

The Jeffersonian’s management company hand-delivered Demand for Possession notices to tenants for non-payment of rent. The letters told the tenants to pay the rent owed or vacate the premises within seven days of receiving the notice.

While the executive order preserves a landlord’s right to receive rental payments due under a residential lease, the section cannot be read in a manner that goes against the order’s intent – keeping people in their homes during Michigan’s state of emergency.

Willful violations of the Governor’s executive order can result in a $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail for each offense, as well as licensing penalties for businesses and other entities. Violations should be reported to law enforcement agencies overseeing the jurisdiction in which the alleged offense occurred.

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