Looking for a rental property in East Lansing

[Michael Layne]

Hello all,

I am a real estate agent in SE Michigan, and a client of mine decided that she wants to buy a SFR property for her daughter while she is going to school at MSU, while also renting out the remaining rooms as income. After her daughter graduates, she is hoping to hold, so this is a long term buy and hold for her.

All the other worries about lack of inventory at the moment aside, the client messaged me worried about not getting a property with an existing "rental license" in place.  She wants to get a property that is already approved and is being used as a rental now, because she is worried about the process of applying for and obtaining a rental license for a property.

I have never done business in EL but I know a few of you wonderful people have. My question relates to what my client is worried about.  I have never dealt with having to obtain a rental license for a property, so I am very in the dark here.  The best I can come up with is a city inspection that certifies that it is livable, but she is very adamant that a rental license is needed.  

Can someone please walk me through the steps needed to get a property in EL to be certified as a rental property?