The Ann Arbor Tenants Union

The Early Leasing Ordinance and the Right to Renew

What we won, and what you should know

March 24, 2023

In a major victory for Ann Arbor tenants, the Early Leasing Ordinance and the Right to Renew were combined on March 4th into one stronger ordinance (8:530). The new Ordinance uses clarified language, puts forth a simplified timeline, and most importantly, includes stronger protections for tenants. The Ann Arbor Tenants Union played an instrumental role in strengthening these important rules.

The new Ordinance enshrines several rights that all tenants should know:

  • Landlords must offer renewal to tenants or pay relocation assistance (2 months rent) unless there is good cause to not renew.
  • Until 180 days into your lease, landlords cannot make renewal offers.
  • Until 210 days into your lease, landlords cannot require a response to renewals or show occupied units.
  • Landlords always need to give tenants at least 30 days to respond to the offer.
Revised ELO Timeline

The road to tenant protections

How it used to work: Before the first amendment to the Early Leasing Ordinance (ELO) in 2021, landlords were allowed to demand renewal only 70 days after the start of a lease. Landlords also were not required to offer renewal and frequently didn’t. The situation left tenants with little stability and almost no bargaining leverage.

2021: Tenants organized to amend the ELO, to give tenants 210 days into the lease before landlords could give a renewal ultimatum.

2022: Tenants again organized within GEO’s Housing Caucus to win the Right to Renew Ordinance (R2R) which requires that landlords offer renewal or pay relocation assistance (2 months of rent). At this point, landlords began pressuring tenants to sign by threatening to raise rent if leases were not signed by an early deadline.

2024: The revived AATU began organizing to make the leasing process more just for all tenants and to close loopholes. The AATU began organizing tenants in support of an amendment to the ELO and the R2R Ordinances. This amendment was accepted by City Council on March 4th and was made active on March 14th, 2024.

Contact us at AnnArborTenantsUnion@gmail.com for more information or to report a violation of the Early Leasing / Right to Renew Ordinance.

Find your dates

Use our date calculator to see when your landlord can offer renewal and require a response:

For lease renewals negotiated on or after March 14, 2024.

180 days after the start of your lease

Renewals can only be offered starting this date or later.

210 days after the start of your lease

Landlords can only show your unit to other prospective tenants on this date or later.