Michigan Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Notice, and Tenant Rights

Michigan landlords may collect a security deposit of up to 1.5 months' rent and must return it within 30 days of the tenancy ending. Entry requires reasonable advance notice; there is no fixed statutory number of hours. Michigan preempts all local rent control ordinances.

Security deposits in Michigan

Michigan's Security Deposit Act (MCL 554.601 to 554.616) caps security deposits at 1.5 months' rent under MCL 554.602. This cap applies regardless of any agreement in the lease. Within 14 days of the tenant taking possession, MCL 554.603 requires the landlord to give written notice of the landlord's name and address for receipt of communications under the act, the name and address of the financial institution or surety, and the tenant's obligation to provide a written forwarding address within 4 days after termination of occupancy. That notice must carry the mandated 12-point boldface warning about the 4-day duty. The deposit amount is not one of the required items. Michigan does not generally require the deposit to be held in an interest-bearing account for standard tenancies.

At move-out, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit or provide a written itemized list of deductions. The tenant must have provided a forwarding address in writing. If the landlord does not deliver the notice of damages within those 30 days, MCL 554.610 treats that as the landlord's agreement that no damages are due, and the landlord must remit the full security deposit immediately. Double damages come from a separate section: under MCL 554.613, the landlord has 45 days after termination of occupancy either to commence an action for a money judgment or to return the balance, and failure to comply fully with that section waives all claimed damages and makes the landlord liable to the tenant for double the amount of the security deposit retained. Allowed deductions cover unpaid rent, documented damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other breaches of the lease.

When can a landlord enter? Notice rules

Michigan does not set a fixed statutory number of hours for advance notice before a landlord enters. Instead, the landlord must give reasonable notice under the circumstances. Most lease agreements and local court decisions treat 24 hours as reasonable for non-emergency inspections or repairs. Entry must occur at a reasonable time, typically during business hours unless the tenant agrees otherwise.

Emergency entry, for example to stop a flood or respond to a fire alarm, is allowed without prior notice. A landlord who repeatedly enters without giving any reasonable notice may face a claim for breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment. Tenants should document unauthorized entry attempts in writing and send a formal complaint to the landlord before escalating to court.

Ending a lease: notice to vacate

Either a Michigan landlord or tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy by giving one full rental period of written notice. For a monthly tenancy, that means 30 days. Under MCL 554.134(1), a notice is not void because it names a termination day that does not correspond to the conclusion or commencement of a rental period; the notice terminates the tenancy at the end of a period equal in length to the interval between times of payment. A mistimed notice therefore still works, it simply runs a full payment period from service. For example, if rent is due on the first of each month, a tenant who serves notice on April 1 ends the tenancy on April 30.

Fixed-term leases end on the date stated in the lease without additional notice. If a tenant stays beyond the lease end date without a new agreement, the tenancy typically converts to month-to-month under MCL 554.134. For evictions based on nonpayment of rent or lease violations, Michigan uses a specific demand and notice process. See the Michigan eviction notice page or the eviction notice hub for notice periods and the district court filing procedure.

Repairs and the warranty of habitability

MCL 554.139 places a statutory covenant of habitability in every Michigan residential lease as a matter of law, even if the lease says nothing about it. The parties may modify these obligations only where the lease has a current term of at least 1 year (MCL 554.139(2)); the Truth in Renting Act (MCL 554.634) separately requires every rental agreement to carry a prominent notice that the lease must comply with Michigan landlord-tenant law. Under MCL 554.139, the landlord must maintain the premises in a condition fit for the use intended, keep electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation systems in reasonable repair, and comply with applicable building and housing codes.

Michigan does not provide a statutory repair-and-deduct remedy, meaning a tenant generally cannot pay for repairs and subtract the cost from rent. The recognized remedies are rent escrow (paying withheld rent into court) and direct court action for breach of the covenant. Tenants should give the landlord written notice of a deficiency and a reasonable time to fix it before escalating. Local housing inspectors can also be called to document conditions that violate the housing code.

Rent, late fees, and rent control

Michigan has no statutory cap on late fees; the amount is governed entirely by the lease. Landlords should make sure any late fee is stated clearly in the written lease, as fees not disclosed in writing may be unenforceable. There is also no statutory grace period before a late fee may be charged, although many leases provide 3 to 5 days.

Michigan preempts local rent control under MCL 123.411, which prohibits any city, township, or county from enacting an ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential property. That prohibition dates to 1988 PA 226, and it carries two express limits. Subsection (3) does not impair a local unit's right to manage and control residential property in which the local unit has a property interest, and subsection (4) does not limit a local unit's power to adopt an ordinance implementing a plan that uses voluntary incentives and agreements to increase the supply of moderate- or low-cost private residential property available for lease. Tenants facing large rent increases have no legal mechanism to challenge them through rent regulation; the market, lease terms, and negotiation are the only checks. Landlords must give reasonable advance notice of a rent increase as required by the lease or the general notice-to-terminate period for month-to-month tenancies.

If you have a landlord-tenant dispute in Michigan

Document everything in writing from the start. Send repair requests and any complaints by email or certified mail, and keep copies of all correspondence. For deposit disputes, Michigan's small claims court (limit $7,000) handles most cases efficiently. If the landlord missed the 30-day notice-of-damages deadline, MCL 554.610 makes the full deposit due back to you immediately. If the landlord also failed either to sue for a money judgment or to return the balance within 45 days after your occupancy ended, MCL 554.613 makes the landlord liable for double the amount of the security deposit retained.

For habitability issues, contact the local housing inspector or building department to request a code inspection. The Michigan Department of Attorney General handles systemic landlord violations, and Michigan Legal Help (michiganlegalhelp.org) provides free guidance for qualifying tenants. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission handles housing discrimination claims. If you face eviction, act quickly: Michigan's district court summary eviction process moves fast, and free legal aid may be available from your county's legal services organization.

For eviction notice requirements, see the Michigan eviction notice page and the eviction notice hub. For adverse possession and squatter rights, see Michigan squatters rights. For a full state comparison, visit the landlord-tenant laws hub.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant rules vary by state and city and change, and some cities add their own ordinances. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or your state housing agency.

More Michigan Laws

• Michigan Property Records
• Michigan Restraining Order Laws
• Michigan Squatters Rights Laws
• Michigan Unclaimed Property