Is it Landlord's responsibility to remove snow from parking lots?

Question

I live just off campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan in an apartment complex. Over the weekend, we received several inches of snow and there are now snow drifts over 18 inches deep. The parking lot is for over 50 different apartments and there is several hundred apartments in the entire complex. The property managers say that they are not resposible for snow removal. They did attempt at clearing sidewalks but did a piss poor job as there are still a couple inches or snow across the sidewalk. I cannot get out of the parking lot and can assume that most people without 4 wheel drive are equally incapable.

Is there any ordinance, local, state, or federal, that would require them to remove snow from the common parking areas?

Answer 1

"The parking lot is for over 50 different apartments and there is several hundred apartments in the entire complex. The property managers say that they are not resposible for snow removal."



Unless the lease states the tenant is responsible for snow removal, then the landlord (or his agent) is responsible. In some states (MA for example), even the inclusion of a clause requiring the tenant to remove the snow or mow the lawn is not enforceable and the landlord is still responsible for these actions.

Answer 2

Read your lease. It should state who is responsible for what. In general, common areas (like the parking lot) are handled by the complex, while private areas (like a walkway to your unit that goes to no other units) are your responsibility.



If your property manager claims he is not responsible, ask him (politely - being rude is only going to piss him off and he may not want to tell you) who is responsible for snow removal in the parking lot. It may just be a misunderstanding that he is thinking you expect him to get out with a shovel in the parking lot to remove snow, and he means that he doesn't physically remove the snow, but has a service that does.

Answer 3

The landlord is usually responsible for maintenaning the property in a safe manner. If ice and snow collect on sidewalks and someone falls, this can be negligence and a hefty lawsuit.



The parking lot, my gut tells me they need to clear it, but I don't know. You can contact the state department that handles landlord/tenant issues to see if there is anything more specific.



And check your rental agreement. The MI state sample rental agreement has a specific clause for snow removal. If there isn't a law on the landlord doing it and they have a clause that states they aren't responsible, then you can attempt to organize a special collection from other tenants to hire snow removal people, with the landlord's permission. Expect less than half the tenants to respond.



https://www.edgarsnyder.com/slip-and-fall-accidents/snow-ice.html

http://renters.apartments.com/shoveling-snow-who-is-responsible

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/Publications/tenantlandlord.pdf

Answer 4

Only under two conditions:



1. Your lease/rental agreement specifies that as a landlord service.

2. Some local city ordinance requires it.

Answer 5

You need to read the lease. Are those interior roads considered public? That is the case in many of these complexes. If so, then the city might need to clear those roadways.



Without more information, not much we can do to help though.

Answer 6

No, there is no such law. You are the one who chose to live in Michigan, a state well-known for having snowy winters. It's not the landlord's responsibility. Do you realize how expensive it would be to clear snow all the time? If you want that, well, the only way it could be done is to raise everyone's rent by quite a bit.

Answer 7

nope, sidewalk and steps.....