Renters in Ann Arbor now have new safeguards against landlords

The City Council voting unanimously earlier this week to give the final OK to strengthen the city’s renter rights laws, giving tenants roughly six months to live in their apartments before landlords can ask them to renew leases for another year. Landlords are now prohibited from making renewal offers to tenants sooner than 180 days after the start of a lease and they can’t require tenants to make decisions sooner than 30 days after renewal offers are sent. Landlords also must spell out all changes in lease terms and conditions in renewal offers.