LANSING, MI – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has sent a cease and desist letter to the owners of a Detroit apartment building that was attempting evict nearly 80 tenants during the outbreak of COVID-19.

The attempted evictions by the company that oversees Jeffersonian Apartments, 9000 E. Jefferson Ave., are a violation of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order, Nessel said. Many of the tenants are elderly people, according to a news release.

The order signed on March 20 prohibits any person or entity from removing a tenant from a leased home during the pandemic unless the person poses a substantial risk to another person or an imminent and severe risk to the property.

“People cannot be evicted from their homes during this public emergency except under extreme circumstances as outlined in the Governor’s executive orders,” Nessel said.

“The fact that a landlord would threaten to kick out tenants – especially senior citizens – during this situation shows not only a disregard for the laws governing this state during the COVID-19 crisis, but a lack of compassion for our fellow Michiganders. We must remain committed to working together through this pandemic, and that starts by having empathy and respect for our neighbors.”

The Jeffersonian’s management company hand-delivered notices that demanded tenants pay the rent owed or vacate the premises within seven days of receiving the notice.

Nessel conceded that the executive order preserves a landlord’s right to receive rental payments due under a residential lease, but it cannot be read in a manner that goes against the order’s intent – keeping people in their homes during Michigan’s state of emergency.

“In other words, any demand for rent cannot also include demand for possession,” the ceast and desist letter reads.

Willful violations of Gov, Whitmer’s executive orders can result in a $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail for each offense, as well as licensing penalties for businesses and other entities.

Violations should be reported to law enforcement agencies overseeing the jurisdiction in which the alleged offense occurred.