Kalamazoo Landlord-Tenant Rules

Rental registration & inspection certificate: All rental properties in the City of Kalamazoo must be registered and certified as safe and sanitary. Owners schedule an inspection before their certificate expires; the City sends a courtesy notice four months ahead. Owners who follow the schedule can earn certificates lasting up to 52 months. Tenants can check whether a rental is registered on the City's website.; Repair problems & complaints: Before contacting the City about a problem in your unit, give your landlord or property manager written notice and a reasonable time to respond. Then report the issue through the City's Report an Issue with Rental Housing page or 311 ((269) 337-8000).; Eviction diversion & local help: Tenants facing eviction can call 211 to be screened for the Eviction Diversion program. To qualify you must be no more than three months behind on rent and able to keep up payments after help. Legal Aid of Western Michigan ((269) 344-8113) offers free legal help to eligible residents, and Housing Resources Inc. ((269) 382-0287) points renters to housing resources.; State preemption of rent control: Michigan law bars local governments from enacting, keeping or enforcing any ordinance that would have the effect of controlling the rent charged for private residential property. Cities may still manage and control residential property in which they have a property interest.