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Legal Rights Handbook

Michigan Renter Rights & Landlord Laws 2025

Everything tenants and landlords need to know about Michigan housing laws. Eviction rules, deposits, and rights.

Updated January 15, 2026
5 min read

Michigan Renter Rights & Landlord Laws Guide 2025

Target Audience: Renters and Landlords in Michigan
Jurisdiction: State of Michigan (Note: Local city ordinances may add additional rules)

1. Overview: Tenant-Friendly or Landlord-Friendly?

Verdict: Moderate

Michigan is generally considered a Moderate state regarding landlord-tenant relations. It offers a balanced legal framework that protects property rights while ensuring tenants have basic habitability standards.

  • For Landlords: The state provides clear statutes for eviction and lease enforcement, but courts can be slow, and procedural errors often result in case dismissals.
  • For Tenants: Strong habitability protections exist, but Michigan does not have statewide rent control, giving landlords significant freedom in setting rental prices.

2. Security Deposits

Michigan law is strict regarding how security deposits are handled to prevent landlord abuse.

Limits

  • Maximum Amount: Michigan law does not explicitly cap the dollar amount of a security deposit. However, it must be "reasonable" based on the property's condition and local market standards.
  • Pet Deposits: Allowed, but cannot exceed 1.5 months' rent for the first pet. Additional pets generally cannot exceed 0.5 months' rent each.

Return Requirements

  • Deadline: Landlords must return the deposit (or an itemized list of deductions) within 30 days after the tenant moves out.
  • Abandoned Property: If personal property is left behind, the landlord must store it for 7 days before disposing of it. Costs for storage and removal can be deducted from the deposit.

Landlord Warning

Deducting for "Normal Wear and Tear" is illegal. You cannot charge a tenant for repainting walls due to age or cleaning carpets that are merely worn. You can deduct for actual damage (holes in walls, broken fixtures, excessive filth).

3. Eviction Rules

Evictions in Michigan follow a strict statutory process. Skipping steps will cause the case to be dismissed.

Grounds for Eviction

  1. Non-Payment of Rent: The most common ground.
  2. Lease Violation: Breach of terms (e.g., unauthorized pets, illegal activity).
  3. Holdover: Staying after the lease expires.

The Process (Summary Proceedings)

  1. Notice to Quit: The landlord must provide written notice before filing in court. The notice period depends on the violation:
    • Non-Payment: 7 Days (Landlord may accept full payment within this period to stop the eviction).
    • Lease Violation: 30 Days (unless the violation is illegal activity, which can be immediate).
  2. Court Filing: If the tenant does not vacate or fix the issue, the landlord files a "Complaint" in the District Court.
  3. Hearing: A hearing is scheduled (usually within 10–14 days). Both parties must appear.
  4. Judgment & Writ of Restitution: If the landlord wins, the court issues a judgment. The landlord must then request a "Writ of Restitution," which authorizes the Sheriff to physically remove the tenant if they haven't left.

Critical Warning for Landlords

Self-Help Evictions are Illegal. You cannot change the locks, shut off utilities, or remove the tenant's belongings without a court order. Doing so can result in the landlord owing the tenant triple damages and attorney fees.

4. Landlord Entry

Michigan law balances the landlord's right to inspect with the tenant's right to privacy.

Notice Requirement

  • Standard Notice: While Michigan statutes do not explicitly state a time frame for notice in all residential cases, 24 hours' notice is the accepted standard and is required for entry to make repairs or show the property to prospective tenants/buyers.
  • Emergency Exception: No notice is required for emergencies (fire, flooding, immediate threat to safety).

Lease Agreements

Landlords and tenants can agree to different terms in the lease, provided they are reasonable. However, a clause allowing entry "at any time for any reason" may be deemed unenforceable by a court.

5. Rent Control

Does it exist? No.

  • Statewide Preemption: Michigan state law prohibits municipalities (cities like Detroit, Grand Rapids, or Ann Arbor) from enacting rent control ordinances.
  • Rent Increases: Landlords may raise rent at the end of a lease term or with proper notice (usually 30 days for month-to-month tenancies) without limit.
  • Retaliation: Landlords cannot raise rent in retaliation for a tenant exercising legal rights (e.g., reporting code violations).

6. Special Warning for Landlords

Risk Area: Procedural Delays and Evidence.

Because Michigan courts can be backlogged, and the law favors tenants who know their rights, you face specific risks:

  1. Documentation is King: If you go to court for non-payment or damages, you must have a paper trail. Lease agreements, rent payment logs, move-in/move-out inspection reports, and photos are essential. Without them, you will likely lose.
  2. The "7-Day" Trap: In non-payment cases, the 7-day notice is strict. If you accept any partial rent payment after serving the notice but before the court judgment, you may have to restart the entire eviction process.
  3. Habitability Defense: If a tenant withholds rent because of a broken furnace or leaky roof, and you did not repair it within a reasonable time, the court will likely side with the tenant. You cannot evict for non-payment if the unit is uninhabitable.

7. Special Warning for Tenants

Risk Area: Lease Terms and Personal Property.

You have rights, but you also have responsibilities. Here is how to protect yourself:

  1. The Lease is Binding: Read the entire lease before signing. If the lease prohibits something (like painting walls or having guests stay longer than a week), violating it gives the landlord grounds for eviction.
  2. Move-In Documentation: Michigan law does not require a move-in checklist, but you should create one anyway. Take date-stamped photos of every room, especially pre-existing damage. Email them to your landlord. Without this, you may be blamed for damage you didn't cause.
  3. Withholding Rent is Dangerous: Do not stop paying rent because of repairs unless you have followed the specific legal process (often involving escrowing the rent with the court). Paying rent late or withholding it illegally gives the landlord an immediate basis for eviction.
  4. Abandoned Property: If you move out and leave items behind, the landlord can charge you for storage and disposal. They are not required to keep your items for you.

Disclaimer

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws can change and may vary by municipality. Always consult with a qualified attorney or your local housing authority for specific legal issues.