Landlord & Tenants Guide - State of Michigan

This informational booklet is intended only as a guide— it is not a substitute for the services of an attorney and is not a substitute for competent legal advice.

This booklet is designed to inform tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities in rental relationships. It serves as a useful reference—complete with the following:

• An in-depth discussion about rental-housing law in an easy-to-read question-and-answer format

• Important timelines that outline the eviction process and recovering or keeping a security deposit

• A sample lease, sublease, roommate agreement, lead-based paint disclosure form, and inventory checklist

• Sample letters about repair and maintenance, termination of occupancy, and a notice of forwarding address

• Approved court forms.

Whether you are a tenant or a landlord, when you sign a lease agreement, you sign a contract. You are contractually obligated to perform certain duties and assume certain responsibilities. You are also granted certain rights and protections under the lease agreement. Rental-housing law is complex and this information comes from the Michigan Legislature website, with the content accurate at the time of publication.