Tenants of shuttered Leland House in Detroit denied belongings

February 5, 2026

Approximately 37 former residents of the Leland House, a low-rent Detroit apartment building, have been unable to access their personal belongings for nearly two months following a December evacuation caused by damaged electrical equipment. During a bankruptcy court hearing, a federal judge heard arguments about whether tenants should be allowed back inside, with fire officials citing safety concerns while tenant attorneys argued residents were promised access to their possessions. The bankrupt building faces financial obstacles including lack of funds to restore power or hire moving contractors, with estimates reaching $200,000 for packing services and $75,000 for partial electrical restoration.

Who is affected

Approximately 37 displaced former tenants of Leland House (initially over 60 residents were evacuated)
Leland House Tenants Union
The building's owners (following the death of longtime owner Michael Higgins in 2023)
The city of Detroit (financially supporting displaced residents)
Specific tenant Jerrold Foke, who lived in the building for 23 years and is now paying for an Airbnb
Approximately 23 tenants who have consented to contractor assistance

What action is being taken

The city of Detroit is currently paying for hotel accommodations for displaced residents who have nowhere else to stay (having taken over from DTE Energy)
Attorneys for the city, tenants, building owners, and DTE are attempting to develop alternative ways to retrieve tenants' belongings
The bankruptcy court is reviewing the tenant union's reconsideration request regarding building access

Why it matters

This situation highlights the vulnerability of low-income residents in aging urban housing, where tenants paying less than $700 monthly are suddenly displaced and face rental costs three times higher elsewhere in downtown Detroit. The case also demonstrates the complex intersection of bankruptcy proceedings, public safety regulations, and tenant rights, where even basic property retrieval becomes legally and financially complicated. The inability to fund basic solutions like power restoration ($75,000) or moving services ($200,000) from a bankrupt estate leaves dozens of people separated from their possessions indefinitely, illustrating systemic failures in protecting vulnerable populations during property emergencies.

What's next

The court will reconvene on February 24 to continue discussions on the tenant union's reconsideration request. In the meantime, attorneys for the city, the tenants, the Leland House's owners, and DTE have been asked to develop alternative solutions for retrieving tenants' belongings.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com