Michigan Tenant-Landlord Rental Laws & Rights for 2025

Overview of Michigan Tenant Landlord Laws

Stop overthinking it. Renting in Michigan boils down to a handful of deadlines. Miss one, you lose money. It's that simple. I've managed hundreds of units here. The law is clear—and it doesn't care about your "good reason." This is the cheat sheet. I'll give you the statute numbers. Verify them yourself.

Michigan's Vibe: They call it "landlord-friendly." What that really means is the laws are clear, fast, and come with sharp teeth for whoever screws up. Predictable. Not forgiving.

💰 SECURITY DEPOSITS: The 30-Day Landmine

The law is MCL 554.601. Remember two numbers: 1.5x and 30.

• The Cap: Max deposit = 1.5 times monthly rent. $1,200 rent = $1,800 max. But—Ann Arbor? East Lansing? Their local law says one month's rent only. Ignore this, you lose.
• The Clock: Landlord has 30 days after move-out to return the cash or send an itemized deduction list. Not 31. Thirty.
• The Penalty: Blow the 30-day deadline? Tenant can sue you for double the amount you kept (MCL 554.613). I've written that check. It hurts.

"Wear and Tear" vs. "Damage" – The Quick Test:

• Landlord's Cost: Faded paint. Worn carpet paths. Loose knob.
• Tenant's Cost: Hole in wall. Pet-stained carpet. Broken window.
  Your Only Defense: Photo evidence. On move-in day. Tenants, email the video to your landlord. Landlords, use an app. Do not skip this.

🔧 REPAIRS: The "$300 or Less" Gamble

Your landlord must provide a habitable place. Heat. Water. A solid roof. That's the implied warranty (MCL 554.139).

If they don't fix it, you have a move—but it's narrow.

The "Repair and Deduct" Steps:

1. Write it down. Email or letter. "Furnace out. Temp is 55°F."
2. Wait a "reasonable" time. No heat in winter? 48 hours max. Drippy faucet? A week.
3. Hire a pro, pay them, deduct the cost from next rent. BUT—the deduction is capped at the LESSER of one month's rent or $300. That's it.

🚨 WARNING FOR TENANTS: DO NOT JUST WITHHOLD THE FULL RENT. This is the #1 mistake. It's not legal "rent withholding" here. Do it, and your landlord will serve a 7-Day Notice for non-payment. You will be evicted. Use the tool, don't invent your own.

⚡ EVICTIONS: The 7-Day Sprint

This is Michigan's famous speed.

• Rent Late? 7-Day Notice to Quit (MCL 600.5714). Pay in full in 7 days or leave.
• Lease Broken (pet, damage)? 7-Day Notice to Quit. Fix it in 7 days or leave.

If the tenant doesn't comply, file in court ("Summary Proceedings"). Hearing in weeks. Sheriff lockout soon after.

THE RULE: Only the sheriff removes a tenant. Lock changes, thrown-out stuff, cut utilities? That's an illegal "self-help" eviction. You will be sued. You will lose.

For Tenants: A 7-day notice is a five-alarm fire. An eviction judgment will trash your rental future for years.

📈 Rent, Leases & Local Weirdness

• Rent Control: Statewide? No. But Ann Arbor & East Lansing have it. Know your city.
• Late Fees: Must be in the lease and "reasonable." 5% is fine. 25% is a joke.
• Breaking Lease: Early termination fee in your lease? Can't exceed 1.5x monthly rent (MCL 554.602).
• Landlord Entry: 24 hours notice. Period.

❓ MICHIGAN FAQ – NO NOISE

Q: Deposit return deadline?
A: 30 days. Clock starts when they leave and give you a forwarding address.

Q: Notice for late rent?
A: 7-Day Notice to Quit.

Q: Can I withhold rent for no heat?
A: Not the full rent. Follow "repair and deduct." Deduct the repair cost (capped at $300/1 month's rent).

Q: Notice for landlord to enter?
A: 24 hours. Unless the place is on fire.

Q: Can rent be raised anytime?
A: Month-to-month lease? Yes, with proper notice (30 days). 1-year lease? No. Unless local ordinance says otherwise (see: Ann Arbor).

😫 "This Is Why My Michigan Properties Run on Hemlane"

Let's be real. I almost quit after my first eviction. Not because of the tenant—because of the paperwork. Tracking that 30-day deposit window. Drafting the perfect 7-day notice. The court-date calendar hell.

I'm a property guy. I'm not a paralegal with perfect recall.

Hemlane is that paralegal for Michigan law.

• It auto-generates the legally correct 7-Day Notice when rent is late.
• It tracks the 30-day deposit countdown and screams at me.
• It logs every repair request, every message in one system. My court evidence file builds itself.

For tenants, it means no more black holes. Report a leak in the portal, it gets tracked to completion. It forces professional hygiene.

In Michigan, profit is in the procedure. Hemlane is the system that owns the procedure, so I don't have to.

[If managing Michigan's deadlines feels like a second job, see how Hemlane automates it.]

📚 Go to the Source

• Michigan Security Deposit Law: MCL 554.601
• Michigan Eviction Law: MCL 600.5714
• Michigan Legal Help: Housing Topics

Disclaimer: I'm a Michigan property manager. I am NOT your lawyer. This is practical talk from the front lines. For a real legal problem, hire a real Michigan attorney. It's the best money you'll spend