From new apartment complexes under construction to proposed new ones to a discussion of expanding ADUs, there’s plenty of evidence that Traverse City is facing a residential rental crisis.

Michael S. Rogers of Schmidt-Rogers Management, LLC—a local firm that manages such rentals—says northern Michigan is at a “historically low level” in terms of rental availability. The demand is so high that Schmidt-Rodgers usually receives multiple offers for home rentals and those available units are leased as soon as they hit the market.

One local homeowner listed his basement for rent on Facebook – only to have ten inquiries within fifteen minutes.

But amidst all the news about the demand among tenants, what about the landlords? Who are they, and what do they think of the current market?

Residential rentals is a generally unregulated trade, and many individual landlords have historically operated independently and without any outside help or cooperation.

That is, until the creation of the Rental Property Owners Association of Northern Michigan (RPOA), a self-described “mom and pop” collection of property owners who navigate the trials of a complicated rental housing market.

Kathy Roush (vice president) and Chris Christensen (treasurer) say the RPOA’s members are not into “big business.” They rent out duplexes, triplexes, and single-family homes – some inside and many beyond the city limits.

Roush and Christensen acknowledge what they call the “crying need” for rental housing, but the group’s primary focus remains on protecting and educating their affiliate landlords. During regular meetings, RPOA members listen to accountants, legal representatives, and financial advisors. These outside experts offer advice about following federal, state, and local laws, how to best screen renters, and financial or tax implications of owning rental properties.

Deeming “landlording” as a solitary trade, RPOA leaders also support their fellow landlords – and even their renters. Christensen says “while we are investors, we like landlording because we like to help people.” 

Though many renters view landlords as part of the problem, Christensen and her fellow RPOA members say landlords are not out to gouge desperate renters and are not eager to evict their tenants. On the contrary, she says, most have kept rental rates affordable, particularly in light of rising property taxes, insurance, and repair costs. And most landlords also prefer to keep the renters they have and avoid evictions at almost all costs, even through difficult situations.

“I don’t want to disrupt a family, if I can [avoid] it,” she says.

To help guide renters and rental-housing seekers, Roush offers the following advice: Find and maintain housing by “paying on time and taking proper care of [rental] property.” She says that “when landlords have good tenants, they don’t want to lose them.” Landlords want to keep their homes in habitable condition for future sale or rental, so they appreciate fastidious care and trustworthy tenants.

Christensen says the local RPOA chapter continues to grow and welcomes new members or speakers at their alternating evening and afternoon meetings. To learn more, email Christensen here.