A Michigan lease agreement is a legally binding contract that outlines all lease terms a landlord and tenant agree to when renting property.
The document must be written according to Michigan landlord-tenant rental laws and include the names and contact information of the landlord and tenant, the address of the property, disclosures regarding health and safety hazards, lease term, rent details, and security deposit specifics.
Rental Lease Laws Overview
- Rent Control: No.
- Limit on Late Fees: No.
- Late Fees in Rental Agreement: Yes.
- Grace Period: No.
- License Required for Landlord: No.
By Type (6)
Standard Lease Agreement
This document serves to create a tenancy arrangement between a landlord and a tenant for renting residential property.
Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
Presents residents with the opportunity for flexible month-to-month living arrangements, without the need for a long-term commitment.
Commercial Lease Agreement
Establishes a tenancy so a business can rent commercial property from a landlord.
Room Rental Agreement
Enable a formalized cohabitation by setting up a legally binding contract between a main tenant and additional residents.
Sublease Agreement
Establishes a formal agreement between the original tenant (sublessor) and the sublessee, enabling the latter to temporarily reside in the rental property with the explicit approval of the landlord.
Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement
Permits a tenant to buy a property after their tenancy but doesn't oblige them to do so.
Required Lease Disclosures
Michigan state law has specific requirements for landlords and tenants when entering a lease agreement [1] :
- Identification. Landlord’s name and address where the tenant can send legal notices.
- Domestic Violence Victims Notice. A tenant who reasonably fears for their safety or for their child due to sexual assault, stalking, or domestic violence may break their lease and be relieved from rent obligations after providing a written statement [2] . The following statement must be included:
“NOTICE: A tenant who has a reasonable apprehension of present danger to him or her or his or her child from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking may have special statutory rights to seek a release of rental obligation under MCL 554.601b.”
- Security Deposit Notice. If a landlord requires a security deposit, the tenant must receive written notice of the landlord’s name and address, the name of the financial institution or surety holding the deposit, and a security deposit receipt. The tenant is obligated to provide the landlord with a forwarding address upon move-out [3] . The notice must include the following statement in twelve-point bold-face font:
“YOU MUST NOTIFY YOUR LANDLORD IN WRITING WITHIN 4 DAYS AFTER YOU MOVE OF A FORWARDING ADDRESS WHERE YOU CAN BE REACHED AND WHERE YOU WILL RECEIVE MAIL; OTHERWISE YOUR LANDLORD SHALL BE RELIEVED OF SENDING YOU AN ITEMIZED LIST OF DAMAGES AND THE PENALTIES ADHERENT TO THAT FAILURE.”
- Truth in Renting Act Disclosure. A landlord must include a notification of the Michigan Truth in Renting Act, which regulates rental agreements and outlines specific disclosures and provision prohibitions [4] . The following statement must be included in twelve-point font or in legible print with letters no less than 1/8 inch:
“NOTICE: Michigan law establishes rights and obligations for parties to rental agreements. This agreement is required to comply with the Truth in Renting Act. If you have a question about the interpretation or legality of a provision of this agreement, you may want to seek assistance from a lawyer or other qualified person.”
- Inventory Checklist. Landlords must provide their tenants with a rental inspection checklist, after which the tenant has one week to review the list and return a copy to the landlord [5] . Said checklist must include the following statement in twelve-point bold-face font:
“YOU SHOULD COMPLETE THIS CHECKLIST, NOTING THE CONDITION OF THE RENTAL PROPERTY, AND RETURN IT TO THE LANDLORD WITHIN 7 DAYS AFTER OBTAINING POSSESSION OF THE RENTAL UNIT. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE A COPY OF THE LAST TERMINATION INVENTORY CHECKLIST WHICH SHOWS WHAT CLAIMS WERE CHARGEABLE TO THE LAST PRIOR TENANTS.“
- Disclosure of Lead-Based Hazards. According to federal law, the lead-based paint disclosure needs to be provided to the tenant before occupancy for any building built before 1978 [6] .
Security Deposit
- Maximum Amount: The security deposit cannot exceed one and a half months’ rent [7] .
- Receipts: The landlord must provide a receipt for the security deposit within 14 days, including the institution’s name and address [3] .
- Interest Payments: Interest on security deposits is not required.
- Bank Account: Deposits must be kept in a regulated financial institution [3] .
- Returning Requirements: Landlords must return the security deposit within 30 days after the end of the tenancy [8] .
- Withholding Rules: If any amount is withheld from the security deposit, an itemized list of damages must be provided [8] .
Rent Payments
- Laws: Rent must be paid on the due date specified in the lease agreement.
- Rent Control: Michigan does not have statewide rent control laws.
- Late Fees and Grace Period: There is no statutory limit on late fees, and no grace period is required.
- Withholding Rent: Tenants may withhold rent if the landlord fails to make necessary repairs after notice [9] .
Landlord Right of Entry
- Notice Requirements: No specific state law, but 24 to 48 hours’ notice is recommended.
- Keys, Locks, and Security: Changing locks without a court order is illegal [10] .
Property Repairs
- Landlord Responsibilities: Landlords must maintain rental properties in a habitable condition [11] .
- Tenant Repairs: Tenants can repair and deduct costs from rent if the landlord fails to make necessary repairs [12] .
- Abandonment: No specific state law on abandonment, but landlords can evict if rent is unpaid, and the property is believed to be abandoned.
Terminating a Lease
- Month-to-Month Tenancy: Either party can terminate a month-to-month lease with one-month notice [13] .
- Unclaimed Property: Michigan state law does not require landlords to store or attempt to contact tenants about abandoned property.
Sample
Use the free Michigan lease agreement template below to document your tenant’s legally binding terms and conditions.
