ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Class is back in session at the University of Michigan. But some students are still trying to figure out where to live.
More families are coming forward with concerns about recent move-in challenges and communication at an off-campus student apartment complex in Ann Arbor.
Local 4 first reported Friday (Aug. 28) on issues at Haven on Geddes, located at 1700 Geddes, where families said they arrived to move in last week and found their apartments were not ready.
Jessica Schoeben said her daughter and three roommates were scheduled to move into a four-bedroom apartment on Aug. 17. Instead, she said the students were told their unit was not ready—and that the apartment ultimately had only three bedrooms.
“We signed a lease for a four-bedroom apartment. My daughter and three of her friends would each have their own room. It ended up being a three-bedroom apartment,” Schoeben said.
Schoeben said the family was not notified in advance that the apartment would be delayed.
“We never received any notification that the apartment would not be ready,” she said.
The concerns are similar to those raised by two University of Michigan sophomores who previously spoke with Local 4.
They described unexplained move-in delays, a lack of communication from property managers and temporary accommodations that did not match the terms of their leases.
“It’s just been so much more stress on already thinking about the school year,” student Evelyn Montague said.
According to the City of Ann Arbor, Haven on Geddes has 68 units.
Thirty-five of those units were undergoing renovations and needed a proper Certificate of Occupancy before allowing residents to move into the apartments.
On Friday, one parent shared a message from the building’s owner, Hackberry Lane, saying a contractor had made errors during the permitting process.
The message said those errors prevented required inspections and certificates of occupancy from being completed.
Later Friday, the city announced that the certificates of occupancy had been cleared and students could move in. However, some parents said confusion and concerns continued.
One parent from out of state, who asked not to be identified because of concerns about retaliation, shared photos from Saturday that appeared to show ongoing work inside a student’s unit.
The photos showed dirty showers and floors, contractors’ equipment in hallways, and other conditions the family described as safety concerns.
Representatives from Haven on Geddes have not responded to Local 4’s repeated requests for comment.
Parents said they are still seeking answers about their leases, rent, credits and alternate accommodations.
“I would just ask them to please communicate with us,” Schoeben said. “We are willing to work with them. We are here; we understand that there are challenges that arise, but we would like some transparency.”
The University of Michigan’s Student Legal Services office said it has received a high volume of calls from tenants at the complex and is reviewing the situation.
Attorneys recommend that tenants:
- Keep all communication with their landlord in writing.
- Create a timeline of events.
- Save receipts for food, transportation, and other out-of-pocket expenses related to the situation.
Student Legal Services is free for University of Michigan students. More information is available at studentlegalservices.umich.edu.
The City of Ann Arbor also accepts complaints about rental housing.
Information about filing a complaint is available through the Ann Arbor Renters Commission.
“The move-in experience for some of our residents fell short of our standard.
As building ownership, we have stepped in to take full accountability.
This delay was unfortunately caused by a range of factors, from our contractor, the City and elsewhere.
We have provided affected residents with hotel accommodations and other support, and we are continuing to work directly with them to cover expenses and make them whole.
We will continue to work to earn their trust.
At the same time, we recognize that communication from the property manager, AFI, has also not met our standard and we will fix that issue.
The University of Michigan community is important to us. We will do what it takes to serve residents here for many years to come."
Hackberry Lane
