Leland House tenants can reclaim belongings

February 25, 2026

Following a December 2025 electrical outage that forced residents to evacuate the Leland House apartment building in Detroit, a federal bankruptcy judge has approved a plan to temporarily restore power so former tenants can retrieve belongings they left behind. The city's Corporation Counsel emphasized that the building cannot be sold until tenants' property is removed, addressing concerns from residents who said they were initially told the building would remain accessible. Detroit City Council members, responding to pressure from displaced tenants and advocates, are exploring acquiring the property to convert it into affordable cooperative housing.

Who is affected

31 former tenants of Leland House (21 provided inventory lists; 14 found permanent housing; 3 are planning moves)
Leland House Limited Partnership Company (current building owners)
Detroit residents living in non-compliant rental properties (roughly 85% of rental properties citywide)
City of Detroit government and its departments
District 6, 5, and 4 constituents represented by Council Members Santiago-Romero, Miller, and Johnson

What action is being taken

The City of Detroit is implementing the court-approved plan to temporarily restore power to Leland House
The city is working to reclaim tenants' belongings and temporarily store them
The Housing & Revitalization Department is producing cost estimates for restoring power and assessing elevator functionality
City Council is starting conversations about acquiring the building through legal mechanisms

Why it matters

This case exemplifies a systemic housing crisis in Detroit where approximately 85% of rental properties violate city ordinances, leaving many residents in unsafe and unhealthy living conditions. The winter evacuation of longtime Leland House residents without access to their belongings demonstrates the vulnerability of tenants in substandard housing and the need for stronger enforcement and inter-departmental collaboration. The situation has sparked important discussions about tenant rights, affordable housing preservation, and alternative ownership models like housing cooperatives that could provide more stable, community-controlled housing options for Detroit residents.

What's next

The city will restore power to Leland House temporarily to allow property recovery
Tenants will reclaim their belongings, which will be stored temporarily
The city will be reimbursed by the building's current owners
City Council will continue conversations about potentially acquiring the building and converting it into permanent affordable housing through a cooperative model
The Detroit Health Department may coordinate with code enforcement inspectors to address unsafe housing conditions citywide

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com