WHAT¹S HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN -JUNE, 2006 
by Don Eichstaedt, Secretary, Rental Property Owners Assoc. 
of Michigan 
(RPOAM) 
 
2006 RPOAM ANNUAL CONFERENCE - 
 
IT IS TIME TO SIGN UP FOR THE CONFERENCE AND GET YOUR HOTEL 
ROOM!! 
 
THEME ³ SOAR HIGHER, INVEST SMARTER & MANAGE BETTER² 
 
Sept. 29 & 30, 2006 in Lansing, Michigan at Holiday 
Inn-South Convention 
Center 
Featuring: Creative Landlording by Jeffrey Taylor, 
Goldmine of Tax Strategies by Albert Aiello 
Big profits in Real Estate by Robert Shemin 
Off-Shore Investment Opportunities by Elliott 
Financial 
Rehabbing for Real Money by Robyn Thompson 
Legislation & Grassroots Lobbying by Jim Crawford 
NaREIA National Benefits by Rebecca McLean 
Cost: $89.00 single; $99.00 double 
 
To Register: call: 800-701-7762 
 
Hotel Room: call: 517-694-8123 
 
LEGISLATION 
 
DAMAGE RECOVERY BILL (HB 4171) - The governor has signed 
this bill it is now 
P.A. 147. It goes into effect on July 1, 2006. This law 
will allow a rental 
property owner, OR tenant to collect money from the other 
party for repairs 
made with their labor. This would include tenant damages OR 
essential 
habitability repairs a tenant has requested in writing and 
the property 
owner failed to do. This will only apply to Landlord/Tenant 
court cases for 
eviction and damages. 
 
It will take a while to develop; i.e., how much is your 
time worth on an 
hourly basis?  
We suggest that you contact your local court administrator 
and suggest to 
them that they consider using Insurance Company Labor 
Standards. (The same 
as is used to repair a house with insurance coverage.) 
 
EMINENT DOMAIN ABUSE - The House is holding hearings on 
this bill. 
 
SMALL BUSINESS TAX (SBT) - A proposal to ³sunset² the SBT 
on 12/31/07 is on 
the November ballot. At this time the legislature has no 
replacement income 
proposal; it may propose a service tax. 
 
RPOAM-PAC - Mr. Powell reminded all members throughout the 
state that the 
elections coming up in November will be important for 
Rental Property 
Owners. Our PAC fund is low. All Associations are urged to 
collect PAC 
donations from their members and forward them to Mr. Powell 
at 1459 Michigan 
Street, NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503; tel:616-454-3385. 
Associations are 
requested to add a $10.00 PAC donation to their application 
total, but allow 
members to opt out of the donation if they so desire. 
 
LOCAL ISSUES 
 
Benton Harbor (Southwestern Landlord Assoc.) The 
association is working with 
the new local politicians on the lead issue. 
 
Battle Creek - The city has a new ordinance that requires a 
house that is 
vacant for more than 28 days must be registered with the 
city at a cost of 
$40.00 per month. 
 
Big Rapids - The fire department is requiring larger 
windows in older houses 
and apartments so that a fireman can get inside with oxygen 
tanks on his 
back. Some owners are resisting due to the cost and may sue 
in court. 
 
Flint (Genesee County) is suing the city again over their 
water affidavit. 
They have a dispute over the cost of replacing stolen water 
meters. The 
association also helped the city write a new inspection 
ordinance. 
 
Lansing - The city has passed a ³Landlord² registration 
program that starts 
in Jan 2007. 
 
Oakland County - The Reia of Oakland Pontiac Subgroup is 
developing cost 
information so they can proceed with the suit against the 
city for 
³Condemnation Without Due Process². 
 
2003 Michigan Building Codes - There is now a Michigan 
Rehabilitation Code 
Book (an orange book @ $48.00) in addition to the Michigan 
Building Code 
Book and the Michigan Property Maintenance Code Book to 
guide your work (and 
the city inspectors), besides the professional code books, 
plumbing, 
electrical, etc. There are 3 levels of rehab work covered 
by the Code: 1) - 
minor - carpet, paint, etc; 2) new drywall,etc; and 3) 
major - ³out to the 
studs², move walls etc, - NO exterior changes. All of these 
codes are based 
on the International Codes as revised by the State of 
Michigan; there are 
other International codes that are not specific to 
Michigan. These books can 
be bought from several sources including: Bookmark Inc.; 
tel: 888-422-7233; 
web: http://www.iccsafe.org/. Generally you can also check 
these code books 
out from your local library. 
 
Next RPOAM Meeting: TBD 
 
RPOAM WEB SITE: Check out at: 
http://reiawaynecounty.org/rpoam_michigan.html