Trending
A survey is being done this month to look at the rental housing situation in the Upper Peninsula, a persistent area of concern in the region.
The lack of affordable housing has been exacerbated this decade by a combination of rising rent prices and the growth of short-term rentals that are typically booked for 30 days or less via platforms such as Airbnb or Vrbo.
The University of Michigan's Michigan Public Policy Survey of local governments across the state in 2023 found officials at cities, villages and townships in the Upper Peninsula were the most likely to express concern about insufficient single-family housing, at 59%, and multi-family housing at 61%. A majority, 52%, of local leaders from both the U.P. and the northern Lower Peninsula said their communities lacked sufficient affordable housing, according to the 2023 report. That 2023 survey received responses from 136 Upper Peninsula jurisdictions, including 10 counties, 18 cities, 11 villages and 97 townships.
Given the region's popularity for both summer and winter recreation, likely the situation hasn't improved in the past three years.
The regional economic development organization InvestUP is conducting this the Upper Peninsula Rent Study in partnership with three of the U.P.'s regional planning organizations -- Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development, Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development and Western U.P. Planning and Development Region.
"The new regional survey is intended to provide a more comprehensive picture of rental housing conditions across the U.P.," InvestUP states in a news release.
The survey is open to landlords, property managers and rental property owners throughout the Upper Peninsula. Participants will be asked to share basic information about current rents, unit types and vacancies in the region.
The goal is to create a regionally coordinated rental market dataset that reflects actual, on-the-ground conditions across the Upper Peninsula. Publicly available data on U.P. rents is limited and often outdated, InvestUP explained in the news release. "Without direct input from the people who own and manage rental housing, housing assessments are often built on estimates, which leaves decisions about funding incentives, and new development to be made without a full understanding of local market conditions," it states.
"This study is about getting better information from the people closest to the rental market," Jeff Hagan, CEO of Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development, said in the release. "Landlords and property managers understand the realities of operating rental housing in the U.P. better than anyone. Their input will help make sure future housing strategies are based on what is actually happening in our communities, not assumptions."
Individual responses will remain confidential, according to the participating agencies. Results will be reported only in aggregate form, and no property, owner or individual rent will be identified. The survey is not connected to taxes, property assessments, rent control or any regulatory process, the news release added.
Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP, said in the release, "This is not a regulatory effort in any way. It is a necessary step toward better housing decisions. Accurate rental data helps communities and developers understand where there is real unmet demand, where the market is already working, and where future investment can make the most sense."
The survey should also help future housing investments better align with local conditions. Stronger data can help prevent decisions based on guesswork, including projects that may not reflect actual demand or may compete unnecessarily with existing well-functioning rentals, according to the release.
Respondents will receive a copy of the aggregated findings once the survey closes. The report will include average rents by unit type, vacancy patterns, and other local market data that is not currently available in one coordinated regional source.
The Upper Peninsula Rent Study is at investupmi.com/landlordsurvey/ and will extend until Monday, Aug. 31.