Detroit tenants group sues 36th District Court over eviction process

July 8, 2026

A tenant group has filed a lawsuit against Detroit's 36th District Court, alleging that judges permit landlords to pursue evictions and collect rent even when their properties lack required city safety certifications. The suit claims the court should proactively verify that landlords possess valid certificates of compliance before allowing any eviction proceedings or rent collection judgments, rather than placing this burden on tenants to raise during hearings. Currently, only 14% of Detroit's rental properties have obtained the mandatory safety certification, meaning thousands of tenants face potential eviction from properties that may be operating illegally.

Who is affected

Detroit renters living in properties without certificates of compliance (86% of Detroit rental properties)
Detroit Tenants Union members
An anonymous renter withholding rent due to habitability concerns
Tenants who fail to appear in court and receive default judgments
Chief Judge William McConico (named in administrative capacity)
Landlords operating rental properties in Detroit
The 36th District Court judges
The Detroit Landlords' Bar (13 landlord attorneys)

What action is being taken

The Detroit Tenants Union and an unnamed renter are suing the 36th District Court in Wayne County Circuit Court
The anonymous renter is withholding rent for habitability concerns
The court currently considers certificate of compliance only if tenants raise the issue themselves
Landlords are filing eviction cases without being required to show certificates of compliance

Why it matters

This case is significant because it challenges how eviction proceedings operate in one of the nation's busiest eviction courts, potentially protecting thousands of Detroit renters who face eviction from properties that lack required safety certifications. With only 14% of rental properties currently certified as safe, enforcing the compliance requirement could fundamentally shift the power dynamic between landlords and tenants, incentivizing landlords to maintain safe housing conditions and obtain proper certifications. The lawsuit addresses a systemic enforcement gap where landlords can extract rent and pursue evictions without meeting legal safety requirements, contributing to deteriorating housing stock across the city.

What's next

A Wayne County Circuit Court will rule on whether to direct the 36th District Court to issue an administrative order barring judgments for eviction and rent collection when landlords lack valid certificates of compliance
If successful, the court would need to update public-facing instructions and forms and inform tenants during first hearings about the city's rental ordinance
A previously scheduled meeting between judges, landlord attorneys, and tenant lawyers has been cancelled due to the lawsuit

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com