Winter Weather and Your Home

  1. Frozen Pipes: Freezing (and below freezing) temperatures in Ann Arbor can mean frozen pipes in your rental property. Many leases provide a minimum temperature for maintaining your home to avoid freezing the pipes. Read your lease to determine the minimum heat required for the property. Make sure you maintain the recommended temperature- especially if you will be out of town for an extended period of time. If your lease does not provide a minimum temperature, you may want to email your landlord and ask what is recommended.
  2. Renter’s Insurance: You should consider purchasing renter’s insurance to protect your personal property in the unfortunate event that your pipes do freeze and consequently burst. Renter’s insurance is reasonably priced and also protects your personal property if it is lost, stolen, or damaged in other ways.
  3. Heating: In the City of Ann Arbor, every rental unit should be capable of supplying heat to a temperature of at least 68°F, but not more than 85°F, for all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet compartments, when the outdoor temperature is as low as -10°F.
  4. Constructive Eviction: Failure by your landlord to provide heat may be considered constructive eviction. Please contact Student Legal Services if you are without sufficient heat.
  5. Winterization: The City of Ann Arbor Ordinance provides that rental units must be properly winterized if the tenant(s) pays for the heating costs. For more information about the proper winterization you can review the City Ordinance.
  6. Snow Removal: Landlords and/or tenants are responsible for removing snow and ice from the adjacent sidewalk. According to the City of Ann Arbor, snow and ice which has accumulated before 6:00am must be removed by 12:00pm, noon, that same day. If your lease does not address who is responsible for snow removal, contact your landlord.
  7. Snow Emergencies: If you have a car, you need to be aware that when a snow emergency is declared, special parking restrictions may go into effect. Where street parking is generally allowed, restrictions may require all cars to be removed so that the roads can be maintained. Vehicles left in place on these streets may be ticketed and/or towed. If you are leaving town, make sure someone is able to relocate your vehicle if necessary.

 

For more information, visit A2gov.org or to speak with an attorney, please call Student Legal Services at 734.763.9920.

 

Contributed By: Gayle Rosen, Student Legal Services