Web exclusive: City Council defers vote on rental housing ordinance

The East Lansing City Council voted to defer an ordinance that potentially would make renting out homes easier for those who have trouble selling their home at its Oct. 27 work session.

The ordinance would allow East Lansing residents to be exempt from needing a rental license in certain circumstances when an owner could not sell their residence.

The council moved to defer the ordinance because it had just received the recommendation from the Housing Commission to vote on the ordinance.

According to Councilmember Nathan Triplett, who is the council liaison to the commission, the board was conflicted in its discussion about the ordinance. He said he wanted council to have more time to discuss it.

“We need to have a deeper discussion about Ordinance 1212 and where it’s headed,” he said.