At a Glance
| Question | Answer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit limit? | 1.5 months' rent | Under the Security Deposit Act |
| Rent control? | No | State preemption law prohibits local rent control ordinances |
| Required notice to raise rent? | 30 days | For month-to-month tenancies |
| Lease required in writing? | Yes, for leases > 1 year | Month-to-month can be oral |
| Landlord entry notice? | No statute | Reasonable notice implied by common law |
Security Deposits
Michigan's Security Deposit Act governs the collection, holding, and return of security deposits.
Landlords may collect a maximum security deposit of 1.5 months' rent. The deposit must be held in a regulated financial institution, and landlords must provide the tenant with the name and address of the bank where the deposit is held within 14 days of receiving it.
Landlords must return the deposit within 30 days of the tenant vacating the unit, along with an itemized list of any deductions. If the landlord fails to provide the itemized list within 30 days, they forfeit the right to claim any deductions.
cite: Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.601 et seq.
Eviction Procedures
Michigan requires landlords to follow specific legal procedures to evict a tenant. Self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities, removing belongings) are illegal.
Notice Requirements
- 7-Day Notice: For nonpayment of rent
- 30-Day Notice: For termination of a month-to-month tenancy without cause
- 24-Hour Notice: For health and safety emergencies or illegal activity on the premises
- Immediate Notice: For serious lease violations involving illegal drug activity
After the notice period expires, the landlord must file a complaint in district court and obtain a court order before proceeding with eviction.
cite: Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5714
Rent Control
Michigan does not have statewide rent control. Furthermore, the state has a preemption law that prohibits local municipalities from enacting their own rent control or rent stabilization ordinances. Landlords may raise rent by any amount with proper notice, typically 30 days for month-to-month tenancies.
cite: Mich. Comp. Laws § 123.411
Lease Agreements
Michigan requires leases longer than one year to be in writing under the Statute of Frauds. Oral agreements are enforceable for month-to-month or shorter-term tenancies.
Required Disclosures
Michigan landlords must provide the following disclosures:
- Lead-based paint (pre-1978 properties)
- Move-in checklist: Landlords must provide a detailed inventory checklist at move-in
- Security deposit: Name and address of the financial institution holding the deposit
- Landlord identity: Name and address of the property owner and the person authorized to manage the premises
- Truth in Renting Act: The lease cannot contain provisions that violate the Truth in Renting Act
cite: Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.601-554.616
Tenant Rights
Michigan provides important protections for tenants:
- Habitability: Landlords must maintain rental units in reasonable repair and fit for habitation, including working plumbing, heating, electricity, and structural integrity
- Retaliation protection: Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants who exercise their legal rights, such as reporting code violations or joining a tenant organization
- Discrimination protection: The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, and disability
- Repair and deduct: Tenants may make necessary repairs and deduct the cost from rent if the landlord fails to address habitability issues after reasonable notice
- Utility shutoff protection: Landlords may not shut off utilities as a means of evicting tenants