Legal Templates

Free Michigan Residential Lease/Rental Agreement

Use our Michigan Lease Agreement to rent out your property.

Updated May 13, 2022 | Legally reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

All states are required by Federal law to contain specific provisions in all rental and Lease Agreements, including:

  1. The names and contact information of the landlord and tenant,
  2. The address of the property,
  3. Disclosures and information regarding health and safety hazards,
  4. Pet provisions and prohibitions
  5. Rent and security deposit specifics

However, states will often differ on some crucial issues, so make sure you familiarize yourself with Michigan’s laws and regulations to better protect your rights and save yourself from potential future hassle or even a lawsuit.

Other Michigan Real Estate documents you might be interested in are:

  • Sublease Agreement –  Used by a tenant to rent out all or part of their rented property to a new tenant.
  • Eviction Notice – Used by a landlord to start the eviction process with a current tenant.
Table of Contents

1. Michigan Residential Lease Agreement Sample

The sample Michigan lease agreement below describes a contract between “Landlord” Vivian Wong and “Tenant” Nick Dennings. He agrees to rent a condominium in Detroit for $900.00 per month for a fixed term beginning on June 19, 2017 and ending on December 19, 2017. The tenant agrees to pay for all utilities and services for the Premises.

This is a good example of what provisions a simple lease agreement might contain, and how one should look in its final form.

Michigan Lease Agreement Sample

2. Michigan Landlord and Tenant Laws

Michigan imposes specific and distinct requirements for landlords and tenants when executing a Lease/Rental Agreement. For example, Michigan statute provides for the following:

Security Deposit:

  1. A landlord is capped at requiring one and a half (1.5) months’ rent from a tenant for a security deposit. (§§ 554.602)
  2. Security deposits must be returned to the tenant within thirty (30) days of the termination or end of the lease. (§§ 554.610)

Landlord Right of Entry:

  1. It is always recommended that a landlord give prior notice to a tenant before entering the premises, however Michigan law does not require it. (No statute)

Additional Documents

Disclosure of Lead-Based Hazards

All Michigan landlords of any building constructed before 1978 must notify all tenants of the potential existence of lead-based hazards. (Title 42 U.S. Code § 4852(d))

Notice of Rental Rights for Domestic Violence Victims

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 that includes; a protective order removing the abuser from a home, a probation order restricting contact with the abusive individual, or a written police report that led to the filing of charges. (§§ 554.601b)

Rental Inspection Checklist

A landlord is required to provide the tenant with two copies of an itemized move-in and move-out rental inspection checklist, after which the tenant has one week to review the list and return a copy to the landlord. (§§ 554.608)

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.“

Security Deposit Notice

A landlord must notify the tenant within fourteen (14) days from the date the tenant moves-in the name and address of the bank where the deposit will be held. (§§ 554.603)

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 in lease and rental agreements. (§§ 554.634)