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Detroit to crack down on 61 apartments with maintenance issues

April 9, 2026

Detroit city officials have identified 61 apartment buildings with persistent maintenance and code violations that require immediate attention to protect residents from unsafe living conditions. Mayor Mary Sheffield announced a new coordinated enforcement strategy involving joint inspections by multiple city departments, court-enforced agreements, and property liens for unpaid violations. This initiative represents a proactive approach to prevent tenant displacement and hold negligent landlords accountable before buildings reach crisis levels.

Who is affected

  • Residents living in 61 multi-unit apartment buildings with chronic maintenance issues
  • Detroit seniors in approximately 65 senior buildings targeted for compliance
  • Landlords and property owners of non-compliant buildings
  • Tenants of Real Token properties and Leland House apartment building
  • Detroit's Buildings, Safety, Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED)
  • Detroit Health Department
  • Detroit Law Department

What action is being taken

  • Joint inspections are being conducted between BSEED and the Detroit Health Department
  • The city is enacting court-enforced consent agreements
  • The city is placing liens on properties with multiple unpaid blight and code violation tickets
  • Officials are implementing a coordinated enforcement and legal strategy across city departments

Why it matters

  • This initiative addresses a longstanding concern about shoddy rental housing conditions that directly impact residents' health and safety, including asthma from mold, injuries from unsafe structures, and ongoing mental strain. The proactive approach aims to prevent tenant displacement and building deterioration before they reach crisis levels, ensuring Detroit residents have safe housing. The enforcement strategy also seeks to hold negligent landlords accountable and improve the city's rental compliance rate, which currently stands at only 14%, far below acceptable standards.

What's next

  • BSEED has a goal of bringing 65 senior buildings into compliance by August 2026
  • The city aims to increase rental property compliance from the current 14% to between 25% and 35% in the next year

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com