Dearborn Heights — Ch. 7 Art. IX Div. 10 Registration and Inspection of All Rental Dwellings § 7-625
Disclaimer of liability
Operative Text
A rental dwelling certificate of compliance is not a warranty or guarantee that there are no defects in the rental dwelling or unit and the city shall not be held responsible for defects not noted in the inspection report. This inspection of the land use, exterior posture and interior accessories of the structure is limited to visual inspection only. The city does not guarantee or approve by inference any latent, structural, or mechanical defects thereto, or such other items that are not apparent by such visual inspection. The city shall not assume any liability to any person by reason of the inspection required by the ordinance or the Code adopted herein or the issuance of a rental dwelling certificate of compliance.
Under Dearborn Heights Ch. 7 Art. IX Div. 10 § 7-625, a rental dwelling certificate of compliance issued by the city carries no warranty or guarantee about the actual condition of the property. The city's inspection is limited to what inspectors can observe visually, meaning hidden structural, mechanical, or other latent defects are not covered by the certificate. The city explicitly disclaims any legal liability arising from the inspection process or the issuance of the certificate itself.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties in Dearborn Heights should understand that obtaining a certificate of compliance under § 7-625 does not relieve them of their own obligations to maintain safe and habitable units. Because the city's inspection is visual only and the certificate carries no warranty, landlords generally conduct their own thorough assessments—including structural and mechanical systems—to identify defects that may not be apparent to a city inspector. Holding a certificate does not shield a property owner from tenant claims or other legal obligations related to undisclosed or hidden defects.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 7-625, a city-issued rental dwelling certificate of compliance is not a guarantee that a unit is free of defects, so tenants should not treat its existence as confirmation that a property is in perfect condition. Because the city disclaims liability for latent or non-visible issues, tenants who discover defects may have avenues beyond the city inspection process—such as raising habitability concerns with local housing authorities, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring remedies available under Michigan landlord-tenant law. Awareness of this disclaimer helps tenants understand that the certificate reflects only what was visually observable at the time of inspection.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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