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Renters' Rights

Tenancy Agreement contract on clipboard with the keys sitting on top
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Renters' Rights

Welcome to the Renters' Rights Resource Page! Whether you're a tenant or a landlord, you've found your go-to spot for accessing vital resources to help you understand and protect your rights.

Here, you will find essential guidance and legal insights to help you navigate the sometimes-complex rental landscape.

From tips to finding your perfect place to dodging those tricky rental scams, this page has you covered.

  • Man looking online for available rental units

    Online Search Tools

    The following online search tools can assist you with finding rental housing:

    MSHDA Search Tools

    • Affordable Rental Housing Directory (ARHD): Provides a search tool of all the MSHDA, HUD, Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and Rural Development financed developments in Michigan. Additionally, some local Public Housing Agencies have included their rental housing information in this search.
    • Michigan Housing Locator: Provides a search tool for both subsidized and market rental housing in Michigan.

    Additional Search Tools

  • Keys on the table in new apartment

    Rental Red Flags

    When you're looking for a new place to live, there are a variety of factors to consider - size, cost, location and more. Scammers hope all of that distracts you from recognizing a fraudulent listing.

    Fraudulent rental listings typically happen in two ways:

    • Hijacked Ads - Some scammers may copy a listing from a legitimate real estate listing and place it on a different website. It all looks legitimate, but in reality the bad actor is promoting a property they're not affiliated with.
    • Phantom Rentals - Other scammers may make up a listing altogether in an effort to cheat an unsuspecting renter out of money. These will often offer rent that is far lower than other listings in the area.

    Learn How to Spot and Dodge Rental Listing Scams