How to Get Help in the State of Michigan for Eviction by Landlord
In Michigan, the only legal way to evict a tenant is through a series of court proceedings. To initiate the proceedings, the landlord must serve the tenant with a Notice to Quit. Although this notice may seem intimidating, it is important to note that it is simply the first notification of a pending eviction that a landlord is required to provide to the tenant. The Notice to Quit isn’t the actual eviction notice, but it is serious enough that you should start trying to get help with the pending eviction as soon as you receive the notice.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Call your landlord to determine if you can come to a mutually agreeable solution to the complaints in the eviction notice. Some landlords would rather work things out instead of having to find new tenants. Be honest with your landlord about what you can do to prevent the eviction.
-
2
Contact your local tenants rights or legal aid office to determine if you have any basis to fight the eviction notice. Being pregnant or having children in the middle of winter isn't enough to keep you from being evicted, but a group like Michigan Legal Aid may be able to help you explore other ways to keep you in your home.
-
-
3
Know your rights. Your landlord can’t have the utilities to the house turned off or the locks changed to force a tenant out. He also can’t use force to get you out of your home. Only with a court order (and with the help of your area's Sheriff’s Office) can he actually force you out of your home.
-
4
Prepare a budget to present at the mediation meeting, which is the second step in the eviction process. If you can prove that you are able to pay the rent each month and pay some extra each month to cover past due rent, the mediator may be able to help you and the landlord come to an agreement. If your eviction is due to a cause other than nonpayment of rent, draw up a plan on how you plan to correct the problem.
-
5
Visit local churches and social service organizations. These organizations may be able to provide you with financial assistance to pay your landlord so you can stay in your home. Additionally, some of these organizations have housing available that you can move into if the eviction goes through.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you end up going to trial about the eviction, be sure to show up at all of the court dates. In Michigan, a tenant who misses a court date automatically loses the right to appeal the court's finding.
