YPSILANTI, Mich. – Washtenaw County prosecutors and Ypsilanti city officials secured a court order Thursday requiring extensive repairs and tenant protections at the troubled Arbor One Apartments complex, where residents have endured unsafe living conditions including non-functioning furnaces. mold and collapsing ceilings.
Circuit Court Judge Carol Kuhnke’s order mandates that the New Jersey-based property owners make urgent health and safety repairs while providing relocation assistance to those who choose to leave.
The order also prohibits the landlords from collecting rent until apartments receive Certificates of Compliance with rental laws. Tenants who break their leases are entitled to refunds of all rent paid since Sept. 17, 2024.
“It means they are going to get more quick results that hold the property owners and property management company accountable,” said Washtenaw County Commissioner Annie Somerville. “The goal is that this becomes a safe place for people to live and their rights are upheld.”
Background: Tenants in limbo after Arbor One Apartments condemned amid health hazards, legal battle in Ypsilanti
A joint lawsuit filed in February by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office and City of Ypsilanti detailed multiple alleged violations at the 19-building complex, including:
- Inoperable heating systems forcing families to use kitchen ovens for warmth
- Widespread plumbing failures causing water damage
- Structural issues leading to ceiling collapses
- Persistent mold growth
- Pest infestations
“Every family has a right to live in a home that is safe,” said Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit. “Landlords who choose to operate in Washtenaw County must ensure that their rental homes are decent places to live and are compliant with the law.”
While neither the Prosecutor’s Office nor the City can represent individual tenants, affected residents can seek assistance through:
- Legal Services of South Central Michigan: 734-665-6181, ext. 3
- Email: SafeHousing@lsscm.org
- Updates form: www.bit.ly/arbor-one-rights
The case remains active as prosecutors and city officials continue pursuing accountability measures.
Local 4 reached out to the property management company but did not hear back.
