**Fine Revenue as a Dedicated Housing Fund** Rather than fines going into the general fund where they can be quietly absorbed, fine revenue could be earmarked specifically for housing remediation — inspections, emergency repairs, or a revolving loan fund for low-income homeowners. Some cities do this explicitly. It creates a feedback loop where bad landlords directly fund the solution to the problem they're creating. **Right to Repair / Rent Escrow** This is a powerful complement. Under a rent escrow model, renters in substandard housing can pay their rent into an escrow account rather than to the landlord until repairs are made. The landlord only gets the money when they fix the problem. Michigan actually has a limited version of this on the books, but it's difficult for renters to use without legal help and isn't well enforced. Strengthening and publicizing it would give renters real leverage without requiring them to risk eviction for complaining. **Fines Paid Directly to Affected Renters** Some cities and states are moving toward models where a portion of landlord penalties go directly to the tenants who were harmed — essentially treating substandard housing as a consumer protection issue. This is a compelling reframe: if you profited from renting an unsafe unit, some of that money should go back to the person you put at risk. **Licensing Revocation with Teeth** Fines alone let bad landlords stay in the market. A tiered licensing system where repeat violators lose the right to rent property entirely — or have to sell under court supervision — is much more of a real deterrent. Some cities have done this with problem landlords who own multiple units. **Tenant Legal Aid Funding** Most renters don't know their rights and can't afford a lawyer. Fines or fees from landlord violations could fund a dedicated tenant legal aid program. This is high-leverage because a single informed tenant can often force compliance that the city failed to enforce administratively. **Proactive Inspection vs. Complaint-Based** Most cities, including likely Lansing, rely heavily on complaint-based inspection — meaning unsafe conditions only get flagged when someone reports them. Renters in vulnerable situations often don't complain for fear of eviction. Proactive, scheduled inspections of all rental units flip that dynamic and don't put the burden on the renter to initiate action. **Receivership Programs** For the most severely neglected properties, some cities use court-appointed receivership — essentially taking temporary control of a building away from a negligent landlord, making the necessary repairs, and then placing a lien on the property to recover costs. It's a more aggressive tool but useful for the worst actors.