Michigan Senators Introduce Bills in Response to Elevator Outages

Michigan Sens. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) have announced legislation to address elevator outages at apartment buildings in Michigan to help ensure building safety and accessibility for tenants, the Oakland County Times reports. According to the source, elevators may quit working for days, weeks or even months at a time, and tenants are not receiving notification or updates. In response, Senate Bills 1144 and 1145 would require building owners to develop a written plan providing tenants with accommodations in the event of long-term elevator outages and would be required to share these written plans with tenants and then submit them to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) for review. Specifically, Senate Bill 1145 says that landlord’s plans may including providing residents with applicable resources, hotel assistance, having property management staff on-site for increased hours or engaging with volunteer groups to provide grocery or medication deliveries to those with limited mobility. In addition, Senate Bill 1144 by Moss would require MSHDA to create a form for property owners and property managers to establish their plans before review by MSHDA. The bills would also create protections for vulnerable individuals, such as those with disabilities or limited mobility.