by Don Eichstaedt, Secretary, Rental Property Owners Assoc. 
of Michigan 
(RPOAM) 
 
LEGISLATION 
 
LLC BILL (HB 4732) - Is stalled because the new Michigan 
Bar President has no interest in it. We will have to wait 
awhile to possibly build up some interest in it. 
DAMAGE RECOVERY BILL (HB 4171) - Has some opposition 
including some rental property owners who do not want 
tenants to have the right to repair and then collect from 
the rental property owner. For current update on bills in 
the House and Senate, go to www.michiganlegislature.org  
 
CONSUMERS ENERGY ISSUES - The Board met with two 
representatives from Consumers Energy (CE) to discuss 
problems that Rental Property Owners around the state are 
having with CE. If the utility seems a little hard to work 
with at times on rental issues - please remember that 
rental properties are a small part of their business. They 
are used to dealing with home owners who are not changing 
residences and billing names every 12 months or more 
often. Theft and Fraud are problems for them and that is 
why they are so ³picky² about records, ID¹s, leases, deeds, 
etc. 
Our executive director is drafting a Check List for Rental 
Property Owners for working with CE. After review and 
approval by CE, this list will be distributed to member 
associations throughout the state. 
 
Some of the main points made to improve relations and 
operations with CE 
are: 
 
1) notify the CE representative that the property is a 
Rental and set up a Landlord File, also this gives you 3 
options on where the bill is to be sent. 
 
2) when you call in - be sure to tell the representative to 
put a note on the property file - so that the next person 
who looks at it will know what is going on. 
 
3) if you have trouble getting a straight, workable answer 
from the Customer Service Representative - ASK TO SPEAK TO 
A SUPERVISOR - you should get a better answer. 
 
4) have a Tenant sign a ³Third Party Notice² at lease 
signing or NOW for existing tenants and turn it in to CE, - 
CE will then send the property owner a copy of the ³Shut 
Off Notice² - when they send one to the tenant so that you 
can take appropriate action. 
 
5) if you call in a change on a property utility, such as a 
transfer option or a new tenant -check back in a couple of 
weeks to make sure the records have been updated. 
 
NEXT MEETING - All member associations in southeastern 
Michigan are requested to send officers and board members 
to the May RPOAM meeting which will be held at the 
SOUTHFIELD HOTEL in Southfield, Michigan, 17017 W. Nine 
Mile Rd, between Greenfield & Southfield Rds. at 1:00/3:00 
PM. on Monday, May 8, 2006. Noon - lunch on your own, there 
is a restaurant on site. OUR CHIEF LOBBYIST FROM LANSING 
WILL BE THERE. 
 
2006 RPOAM ANNUAL CONFERENCE - 
Annual Conference Update - Featuring Jeffery Taylor, Albert 
Aiello, Robyn Thompson and Mr. Jim Crawford, RPOAM 
Lobbyist. To be held Sept. 29 & 30 , Friday & Saturday at 
the Holiday Inn - South/Conference Center in Lansing. All 
member associations are requested to inform their members 
about this conference and urge them to plan to attend. 
 
RPOAM WEB SITE: Check out at: 
Http://reiawaynecounty.org/rpoam_michigan.html 
 
INFORMATION: Mr. Clay Powell, 616-454-3385