Tenant Rights and Responsibilities When Renting in Michigan

As a tenant in Michigan, you have several important rights, including: the right to a habitable living space, protection against illegal discrimination, privacy rights limiting when a landlord can enter your unit (typically requiring 24-hour notice), protection against retaliation for exercising your legal rights, and the right to have your security deposit returned within 30 days after moving out (minus legitimate deductions). Michigan follows the Truth in Renting Act which prohibits certain provisions in rental agreements that waive your rights as a tenant.

In Michigan, a landlord cannot charge more than 1.5 times the monthly rent for a security deposit. For example, if your monthly rent is $1,000, the maximum security deposit would be $1,500. Additionally, the landlord must provide you with a written notice of your rights regarding the security deposit, including where it will be held and the conditions under which deductions may be made.

Michigan law doesn't specifically state how much notice a landlord must give before entering your rental unit, but the common practice and generally accepted standard is 24 hours' notice. Landlords can enter for reasonable purposes such as making repairs, showing the property to prospective tenants, or in case of emergency. However, they cannot abuse this right to harass you or invade your privacy unnecessarily.

To maximize your chances of getting your full security deposit back: (1) Provide a forwarding address to your landlord in writing within 4 days of moving out; (2) Clean the rental thoroughly and document its condition with photos/video; (3) Request a walk-through inspection with your landlord if possible. The landlord must return your deposit within 30 days, along with an itemized list of any deductions. If you disagree with deductions, you can dispute them in writing within 7 days of receiving the list.

For month-to-month tenancies in Michigan, either party must provide 30 days' written notice to terminate. For fixed-term leases, you're generally obligated to pay rent for the entire lease period unless your lease contains an early termination clause, you negotiate with your landlord, or you legally break the lease under specific circumstances (such as active military duty, uninhabitable conditions, or landlord harassment). Breaking a lease without legal justification may result in owing the remaining rent or re-rental fees.

Michigan landlords must maintain rental properties in accordance with local housing codes and keep the premises in reasonable repair. This includes maintaining plumbing, heating, electrical systems, structural elements, and ensuring the property is habitable. If essential repairs are needed, notify your landlord in writing and keep a copy. If they fail to make necessary repairs within a reasonable time, you may have options like repair-and-deduct, withholding rent, or breaking the lease, but these remedies should be pursued carefully with proper documentation.

In Michigan, there are no statewide rent control laws, so landlords can generally increase rent by any amount when your lease ends. For month-to-month tenancies, the landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice before implementing a rent increase. For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be increased during the lease term unless the lease specifically allows for it. Some municipalities may have local ordinances affecting rent increases, so check your local regulations as well.

If you can't pay rent on time: (1) Communicate with your landlord immediately and honestly; (2) Request a payment plan or extension in writing; (3) Check if you qualify for emergency rental assistance through Michigan State Housing Development Authority or local agencies; (4) Know that landlords can begin eviction proceedings after rent is late, typically giving a 7-day notice to pay or quit. Ignoring the situation will likely lead to eviction, which can severely impact your credit and ability to rent in the future.

The Michigan eviction process typically follows these steps: (1) Written notice from landlord (7-day notice for non-payment, 30-day notice for lease violations); (2) If you don't comply, the landlord files a complaint with the district court; (3) You'll receive a summons for a court hearing; (4) At the hearing, you can present your defense; (5) If the judge rules for the landlord, you'll typically have 10 days to move out; (6) If you don't leave, the landlord can obtain a writ of eviction for court officers to remove you. Self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities) are illegal in Michigan.