Michigan Landlord-Tenant Law 2026: The Plain-English Guide
Michigan is landlord-friendly with a fast eviction process and a distinctive 1.5-month deposit cap. Detroit's rental market is one of the most active for investors in the country — and Michigan's straightforward rules are part of the appeal.
Security deposits
- Cap: 1.5 months' rent.
- Return within 30 days of move-out, with a written itemized list of deductions.
- Separate account: deposits must be held in a separate bank account; you must notify the tenant in writing of the bank's name and address.
- Move-in checklist: you must provide one — without it, you generally can't withhold for damages.
- Penalty: bad-faith withholding = up to 2x the deposit.
Use our Security Deposit Deadline Finder and deductions guide.
Rent rules
- No rent control — prohibited statewide.
- Late fees must be in the lease and reasonable.
- Raising rent: 30 days' notice for month-to-month tenancies. See how to raise rent legally.
Eviction in Michigan
1. 7-Day Demand for Possession for nonpayment.
2. 30-Day Notice for lease violations or termination of month-to-month tenancies.
3. File in District Court — summary proceedings, low fees.
4. Hearing typically within 2–3 weeks.
Uncontested cases usually resolve in 3–5 weeks. Michigan courts are efficient — Detroit's 36th District Court handles enormous volume. Self-help is illegal. Full process: how to evict a tenant.
Repairs and habitability
- Implied warranty of habitability; local codes (Detroit, Grand Rapids) add enforcement.
- Tenant remedies after written notice and reasonable time: repair-and-deduct (with procedures), rent withholding through escrow, lease termination for serious violations.
- Retaliation for code complaints is prohibited.
Entry rights
Michigan has no state statute on entry notice. Standard practice: 24 hours' notice in the lease, reasonable times, emergencies excepted.
The bottom line
Michigan is built for investor-landlords: 1.5-month deposit cap, 7-day demands, fast district courts. The compliance work is the deposit account, the bank notice, and the move-in checklist — get those three right and Michigan is smooth sailing.
This is general information, not legal advice. Detroit has local rental requirements — consult a Michigan landlord-tenant attorney for specific situations.