Michigan Tenants' Rental Rights

A landlord must place your security deposit with a financial institution, and the tenant has the right to know the name and address of the bank.

While many landlords are aware of and abide by landlord-tenant laws, many are unaware of or ignore rental laws that protect your rights such as those under Michigan's Landlord-Tenant Act.

Rent Increase

A tenant in Michigan has the right to enforce the agreed-upon rental payment as stated in the lease. A landlord may not arbitrarily increase rent once the lease has begun unless the tenant agrees to the increase in writing or the tenant has been given notice, 30 days in advance, that the increase is due to federal, state or local regulations.

Security Deposit

A tenant in Michigan has the right to agree to provide only a reasonable security deposit at the beginning of the lease. A security deposit may not exceed 1-1/2 times the monthly rent. The tenant also has the right to the name and address of the bank where the landlord has deposited the security deposit. Within 30 days of the end of the lease, the landlord must return the entire security deposit back to the tenant unless he provides an itemized list of the deductions withheld. If the landlord withholds any deductions, the tenant has the right to dispute the charges assessed, but must do so within seven days.

Eviction

A tenant has the right to remain in the rental unit until the landlord is granted an Order of Eviction by a Michigan court. A landlord is never able to remove a tenant without first going through the eviction process.

References

• Tenants and Landlords: A Practical Guide
• Landlord and Tenant Relationships

Resources

• Michigan Tenant Information