Green Rental Housing

Overview

Rental units in Ann Arbor account for about 55% of our housing stock. Many of these units are well-built and maintained, providing tenants – from students to life-long Ann Arborites – the ability to live in comfortable and affordable homes. But this is not always the case. Some buildings and units were constructed in a time before modern building codes and have not been updated, meaning tenants generally pay more for their energy bills, live in uncomfortable units, and reside in buildings that produce disproportionately more emissions inside and outside of the building, harming the physical, financial, and mental health of tenants. To address this, the Green Rental Housing Ordinance sets a minimum baseline for health, comfort, and energy efficiency to ensure our tenants have a place to not just live, but also to thrive, as we all work towards our carbon neutrality goals.

Green Rental Housing Information Sessions

To help landlords and property managers understand the Green Rental Housing Ordinance and learn more about how to save money, stay compliant, and simplify planning, OSI and Rental Housing Services will be hosting educational webinars with time for questions and answers.

Everyone is welcome to attend (registration required for planning).

Reserve your spot:

Webinars will be recorded and posted here once available.

Resources

The Office of Sustainability & Innovations has created resource hubs for both tenants and landlords to continue making Ann Arbor rental housing as safe, healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient as possible.

Landlord Resources

Renter Resources

The Landlord Resource Hub helps landlords:

Learn about up to $20,000+ for improvements from City rebates, DTE programs, grants, and federal tax credits
Access easy-to-follow webinars and walk-throughs, along with checklists and FAQs
Get technical and rebate assistance
Learn about financing that spreads out costs over up to 25 years
Discover no-cost options and ready-to-use tools
Learn how to claim federal credits

The Renter Resource Hub helps renters:

Learn how to reduce energy use and save money
How to find an energy efficient apartment

How does Green Rental Housing Help?

Efficient units have less exposure to indoor and outdoor contaminants, improving occupant health and safety. For example, properties choosing to add insulation or do air sealing, they can reduce harmful outdoor air pollutants from coming inside, lower the likelihood of illnesses, and reduce the likelihood of mold and mildew. For properties reducing or removing methane gas appliances, they can reduce indoor air pollutants and reduce the chance of respiratory diseases.

Units that are more energy efficient maintain more consistent and comfortable temperatures year-round. More efficient homes also generally contribute to better physical and mental health due to less exposure to harmful pollutants and less financial stress due to lower energy bills. Tenants who live in more comfortable units tend to stay longer and leave better reviews.

Units that are efficient use less energy, saving on utility bills. By keeping out the heat in the summer and cold in the winter, heating and cooling systems don't have to work as hard, reducing how much energy is needed to maintain a comfortable temperature. Similarly, having more efficient appliances reduces the amount of energy used, thereby lowering bills.

By using less energy, we reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by our buildings. In Ann Arbor, buildings account for just under 70% of our emissions, and our housing stock is about 55% rentals. Lowering emissions from rental units helps us work together as a community to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.