Title
An Ordinance to Add Sections 8:533 Through 8:540 to Chapter 105 (Housing Code) Of Title VIII (Building Regulations) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Green Rental Housing)
Memorandum
Rental units in Ann Arbor account for about 55% of our housing stock. Many of these units are well-built and maintained, providing tenants - from students to life-long Ann Arborites - the ability to live in comfortable and affordable homes. But this is not always the case. Some buildings and units were constructed in a time before modern building codes and have never been updated, meaning tenants generally pay more for their energy bills, live in uncomfortable units, and reside in buildings that produce disproportionately more emissions inside and outside of the building, harming the physical, financial, and mental health of tenants. To address this, the Green Rental Housing Ordinance is a consumer protection ordinance that sets a minimum baseline for health, comfort, and energy efficiency to ensure our tenants have a place to not just live, but also to thrive, as we all work towards our carbon neutrality goals.
Identified as a key action in the City's A2ZERO Plan, the Green Rental Housing Ordinance and regulations before Council were created in conjunction with renters, landlords across various property sizes, low-income housing representatives, and City departments. Among those who helped develop Green Rental Housing were qualified architects, licensed builders, students of varying fields of study, engineers, and property managers. The program was built using sound building science, best practices from other communities, and a local understanding.
Staff
Prepared by: Dr. Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director
Joe Lange, Senior Energy Analyst
Reviewed by: Valerie Jackson, City Attorney, Sustainability
Kim Buselmeier, Financial Manager
Lisha Turner-Tolbert, Building and Rental Services Manager
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
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