Tenants' Rights Commission Concerns

On Tuesday, May 7 2024 Detroit City Council voted to amend the city charter and create a Tenants' Rights Commission. Detroit People’s Platform (DPP) reviewed the proposed changes to City Code Chapter 12, Article XI, the proposed Tenants’ Rights Commission. While we recognize a deep need for oversight and greater protections for renters, DPP did not support the proposed changes as written.

There are two main reasons: the written draft does not guarantee that commission members will be majority tenants and there is no assurance there will be equitable representation included for the most vulnerable tenants - low income, households headed by Black women with children.  

First, the language is not written to ensure that a majority of the commission are, in fact, tenants in Detroit.

First, the language is not written to ensure that a majority of the commission are, in fact, tenants in Detroit. Only half of the City Council and mayoral appointees must be tenants. Worse, the tie-break member appears to be set aside for a landlord as it includes the stipulation that it “must be a Detroit resident who owns not more than ten rental properties registered...” Detroit People's Platform believes that, in order to allow for meaningful and impactful tenant participation, a Tenants’ Rights Commission must be guaranteed to be majority tenant and must not include landlord representation.

Second, while the legislation mentions senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, students, and young people, there is no call for representation by low-income tenants.

Second, while the legislation mentions senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, students, and young people, there is no call for representation by low-income tenants. In Detroit, half of tenants are considered cost-burdened, meaning that they spend more than 30% of their income on rent.1 The lowest income tenants are also the most cost-burdened.2 Those with the least resources must have a designated voice in policies that will directly impact them. 

Finally, an additional issue that Detroit People's Platform is concerned about is the structure of the non-voting members. The draft does not contain any purpose for non-voting members or any clear process for how they contribute to the body's work. Given the lack of protection for a majority-tenant body, we are concerned that this structure is likely to undermine the very aims for which the commission is created to address.

Detroit People's Platform will continue to monitor and report out on the seating of the Tenants' Rights Commission appointees. 

Detroit People's Platform believes that to change the current housing conditions we must invest in Detroit’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, support Public Housing and fully fund the Right to Counsel. Learn more about DPP's organizing for Housing Justice.