Michigan · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
Michigan tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in Michigan, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
Guides for Michigan renters
Security deposit
Limit, deadline, deductions, penalty and the calculator.
Repairs
The landlord's duty, repair and deduct, withholding rent and a repair letter.
Eviction
Notice periods, court deadlines, illegal lockouts and a timeline tool.
Security deposit in Michigan
- Limit
- 1.5 months' rent
- Deadline to return it
- Within 4 days after you move out, give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. Within 30 days after you move out, the landlord must either return the full deposit or mail you an itemized notice of damages with a check (or, since September 2026, an electronic payment within 10 days) for the rest. If the landlord does not send the notice within 30 days, it has agreed no damages are due and must return the full deposit immediately.
- Itemized list
- Yes: an itemized list of damages with the estimated repair cost for each item, mailed within 30 days after you move out. You must answer by mail within 7 days after you receive it, saying in detail whether you agree; if you do not, you can lose the amount claimed. To keep any disputed amount, the landlord must sue you within 45 days after you moved out (or you agree in writing); otherwise it must return the balance (MCL 554.609, 554.613).
- What may be deducted
- Only: actual damage caused by conduct not reasonably expected in normal living; unpaid rent, rent owed for ending the lease early, and unpaid utility bills (MCL 554.607).
- Interest
- no
- Separate account
- The deposit must be held in a regulated financial institution, unless the landlord posts a cash or surety bond with the Secretary of State. Within 14 days after you move in, the landlord must tell you in writing the bank or surety's name and address.
- Move-in checklist
- Yes. The landlord must give you 2 blank inventory checklists at move-in; fill one out and return it within 7 days. You can ask for the prior tenant's move-out checklist. The landlord must complete a move-out checklist too.
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- If the landlord does not follow the rules (notice of damages within 30 days of move-out; then, for any amount you dispute, a lawsuit within 45 days of move-out), it waives all claimed damages and owes you double the amount of the deposit it kept (MCL 554.613). If it misses the 30-day notice, it must return the full deposit right away (MCL 554.610).
How to get your deposit back
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Michigan: Within 4 days after you move out, give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
- Wait for the deadline: Within 4 days after you move out, give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $7,000. Small claims court in Michigan on Small Claims Map
Repairs in Michigan
- The landlord's duty
- The landlord promises that the home and common areas are fit for their intended use, to keep the premises in reasonable repair, and to follow state and local health and safety laws, unless you caused the problem. For leases of one year or more, the parties may change these duties in the lease (MCL 554.139).
- How to ask for repairs
- Ask the landlord in writing, keep a copy, and contact local code enforcement. No set number of days in state law.
- Repair and deduct
- no statute
- Withholding rent
- No statutory procedure, but in a nonpayment eviction it is a defense that the landlord's breach of the lease excused paying rent, or that rent was paid into a city escrow account or under a court order under the Housing Law (MCL 600.5720(1)(f)-(g)). Withholding is risky without legal advice.
- Law
- MCL 554.139; 600.5720
Landlord entry in Michigan
no statute; check your lease. Entering or interfering beyond what is needed for repairs or inspection 'as provided by law' can be unlawful interference (MCL 600.2918).
Eviction in Michigan
- Notice for unpaid rent
- A written 7-day demand for possession (notice to quit) for unpaid rent (MCL 554.134(2); 600.5714(1)(a)).
- Notice for a lease violation
- For a lease that allows termination for a violation, the lease terms apply; for a tenancy at will, one rental period's notice. Special shorter notices: 24 hours for illegal drugs with a police report; 7 days for causing or threatening physical injury, or for serious health hazards or property damage (MCL 600.5714).
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- One rental period's written notice (one month for month-to-month), from either side (MCL 554.134(1)).
- Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
- The summons gives a court hearing date; go to the hearing and bring your defenses. A judgment cannot be entered against you if the eviction is retaliatory (MCL 600.5720).
- Lockouts and utility shutoffs
- Yes. Lockouts, changing locks without giving you keys, removing doors or windows, removing or keeping your belongings, boarding up, cutting heat, water, electricity or gas, or using force are unlawful. You can recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession; if forced out by force, 3 times damages or $200 (MCL 600.2918).
- Court self-help
- The court's eviction self-help page
- Law
- MCL 554.134; 600.5714; 600.2918
Rent increases and rent control in Michigan
- Notice of a rent increase
- no statute; a landlord can change rent for a month-to-month tenancy by ending it with one month's notice, and during a lease only as the lease allows.
- Rent control
- No. Local governments may not control rents on private housing (MCL 123.411).
Late fees in Michigan
no statute
Retaliation in Michigan
A court may not evict you if the eviction is mainly a penalty for enforcing your rights, complaining to a government agency about code violations, or joining a tenant organization, or if the landlord raised your obligations as a penalty. If you took official action (court or agency complaint) within 90 days before the eviction case and it was not dismissed, retaliation is presumed (MCL 600.5720).
Small claims court in Michigan
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $7,000.
Where to get free help in Michigan
Good to know in Michigan
- Your forwarding address must be given in writing within 4 days of moving out, or the landlord does not have to send the damage notice.
- When you get a notice of damages, reply by mail within 7 days stating what you disagree with; missing this deadline can cost you the deposit.
- Ask for and fill out the move-in inventory checklist within 7 days; it is your proof of the unit's condition.
Recent law changes
2026 PA 102 (immediately effective September 21, 2026) amended MCL 554.609 to let landlords refund the deposit balance by direct deposit or electronic transfer within 10 days after mailing the notice of damages.
Free tools for Michigan renters
Pre-set for Michigan. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for Michigan
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for Michigan
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Repair request letter for Michigan
Ask your landlord in writing to fix the problem by a date. A written, dated request is the first step in almost every state, and it is proof that the landlord knew. Check the problems, add dates, then download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it). Sign it, keep a copy and photos, and send it in a way you can prove.
Eviction notice timeline for Michigan
Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.
This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.
Questions about renters' rights in Michigan
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Michigan?
1.5 months' rent
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Michigan?
Within 4 days after you move out, give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. Within 30 days after you move out, the landlord must either return the full deposit or mail you an itemized notice of damages with a check (or, since September 2026, an electronic payment within 10 days) for the rest. If the landlord does not send the notice within 30 days, it has agreed no damages are due and must return the full deposit immediately.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Michigan?
If the landlord does not follow the rules (notice of damages within 30 days of move-out; then, for any amount you dispute, a lawsuit within 45 days of move-out), it waives all claimed damages and owes you double the amount of the deposit it kept (MCL 554.613). If it misses the 30-day notice, it must return the full deposit right away (MCL 554.610).
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Michigan?
Only: actual damage caused by conduct not reasonably expected in normal living; unpaid rent, rent owed for ending the lease early, and unpaid utility bills (MCL 554.607).
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Michigan?
no
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in Michigan?
Ask the landlord in writing, keep a copy, and contact local code enforcement. No set number of days in state law.
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in Michigan?
no statute
Can I withhold rent for repairs in Michigan?
No statutory procedure, but in a nonpayment eviction it is a defense that the landlord's breach of the lease excused paying rent, or that rent was paid into a city escrow account or under a court order under the Housing Law (MCL 600.5720(1)(f)-(g)). Withholding is risky without legal advice.
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in Michigan?
no statute; check your lease. Entering or interfering beyond what is needed for repairs or inspection 'as provided by law' can be unlawful interference (MCL 600.2918).
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Michigan?
A written 7-day demand for possession (notice to quit) for unpaid rent (MCL 554.134(2); 600.5714(1)(a)).
How much notice for a lease violation in Michigan?
For a lease that allows termination for a violation, the lease terms apply; for a tenancy at will, one rental period's notice. Special shorter notices: 24 hours for illegal drugs with a police report; 7 days for causing or threatening physical injury, or for serious health hazards or property damage (MCL 600.5714).
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Michigan?
One rental period's written notice (one month for month-to-month), from either side (MCL 554.134(1)).
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Michigan?
The summons gives a court hearing date; go to the hearing and bring your defenses. A judgment cannot be entered against you if the eviction is retaliatory (MCL 600.5720).
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Michigan?
Yes. Lockouts, changing locks without giving you keys, removing doors or windows, removing or keeping your belongings, boarding up, cutting heat, water, electricity or gas, or using force are unlawful. You can recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession; if forced out by force, 3 times damages or $200 (MCL 600.2918).
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in Michigan?
no statute; a landlord can change rent for a month-to-month tenancy by ending it with one month's notice, and during a lease only as the lease allows.
Is there rent control in Michigan?
No. Local governments may not control rents on private housing (MCL 123.411).
Is there a limit on late fees in Michigan?
no statute
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in Michigan?
A court may not evict you if the eviction is mainly a penalty for enforcing your rights, complaining to a government agency about code violations, or joining a tenant organization, or if the landlord raised your obligations as a penalty. If you took official action (court or agency complaint) within 90 days before the eviction case and it was not dismissed, retaliation is presumed (MCL 600.5720).
What is the small claims limit in Michigan?
$7,000.