Michigan Lease Agreement Review
Michigan's Security Deposits Act, MCL 554.601 and following, is built around deadlines on both sides. Landlords must itemize within 30 days, but tenants have just seven days to answer, and a missed reply is costly. Michigan also lets survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking leave a lease early, and requires landlords to tell tenants about that right in the lease or by posted notice.
Security deposit
1.5 months
Entry notice
No statutory notice period
Security deposits in Michigan
Michigan caps deposits at one and a half months’ rent and sets no fixed entry-notice period.
Michigan lease law sets the limit above. Before you sign, check the deposit against it, get the amount and the return terms in writing, and watch for a deposit that exceeds what the state allows, a common and negotiable red flag.
Landlord entry and your privacy in Michigan
Michigan does not fix an entry-notice period by statute, so the lease controls, which makes the entry clause worth reading closely. A fair lease should still require reasonable advance notice (at least 24 hours) for non-emergency entry.
Habitability and repairs in Michigan
Like nearly every state, Michigan recognizes an implied warranty of habitability, the landlord’s duty to keep the home livable. A clause making you accept the unit “as is” or waive that warranty is generally void, and a clause shifting all repairs (including major systems) onto you is a red flag worth negotiating.
What happens after a Michigan move-out?
Under MCL 554.609, the landlord must mail an itemized list of damages within 30 days after the tenancy ends, with estimated repair costs and the basis for each charge, and pay any difference between the deposit and the claim with the notice. Damage already recorded on the checklist completed before you moved in cannot be charged.
You must respond by mail within seven days of receiving the list. If you do not, you forfeit the right to contest the amount claimed. Deposits themselves are capped at one and a half months' rent by MCL 554.602, with one deposit per unit.
Ending a Michigan lease early for safety
MCL 554.601b lets a tenant with a reasonable apprehension of present danger from domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking seek release from future rent. Send written notice by certified mail with documentation such as a personal protection order, a qualifying police report, or a verified statement from a qualified third party such as a counselor or health professional. The rent obligation ends no later than the first day of the second month that rent is due after notice, once you have moved out. Co-tenants remain liable, and prepaid amounts such as last month's rent are not refunded under this section.
Michigan sources checked 2026-10-09: MCL 554.609 (FindLaw) · MCL 554.602 (FindLaw) · MCL 554.601b (FindLaw). Laws change; confirm the current rule before relying on it.
What ClauseAudit checks in a Michigan lease
- Security deposit vs the Michigan limit, and the return terms
- Landlord entry notice against Michigan requirements
- Waiver of the warranty of habitability (generally void)
- Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance
- Late fees, grace periods, and any state caps
- Early-termination penalties and the duty to mitigate
Michigan lease FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Michigan?
As of October 2026, the security-deposit rule in Michigan is: 1.5 months. Michigan caps deposits at one and a half months’ rent and sets no fixed entry-notice period. Deposit caps change, so confirm the current figure, ClauseAudit checks it against Michigan law when you run your lease.
How much notice must a landlord give before entering in Michigan?
Michigan does not set a fixed entry-notice period by statute, so the lease and your right to quiet enjoyment control. Best practice, and what a fair lease should require, is at least 24 hours’ advance notice for non-emergency entry.
Can a Michigan lease make me waive my right to a habitable home?
In nearly every state, the implied warranty of habitability, the landlord’s duty to keep the unit livable, cannot be waived, and a clause trying to make you accept the home “as is” is generally void. Flag any such clause in a Michigan lease; it does not override your rights.
How much can a landlord charge as a security deposit in Michigan?
Michigan caps it: 1.5 months. Michigan caps deposits at one and a half months’ rent and sets no fixed entry-notice period. 3 jurisdictions use the same limit. A lease asking for more than the statutory maximum is asking for something the law does not allow.
Do the states next to Michigan treat deposits the same way?
No, and the gap can be large: Indiana (No statewide cap), Ohio (No statewide cap), Wisconsin (No statewide cap). Deposit rules are set state by state, so a landlord operating across a state line may be working from the wrong rulebook, and a lease template borrowed from a neighbouring state may carry that state's figure rather than Michigan's.
Is there anything specific to Michigan tenants should know?
Michigan caps deposits at one and a half months’ rent and sets no fixed entry-notice period. With no statutory notice period for entry, the access clause in the lease is what governs, so read it rather than assuming a default.
What if I miss Michigan's 7-day deadline to respond to a damage list?
Under MCL 554.609, a tenant who does not respond by mail within seven days of receiving the itemized list forfeits the amount claimed for damages. Watch the mail closely after moving out, and reply in writing disputing each item you disagree with, keeping proof of mailing.
Does a Michigan move-in checklist protect me?
Yes. MCL 554.609 bars a landlord from charging for damage that was recorded on a checklist completed before you moved in. Fill it out thoroughly, take dated photos, and keep a copy, because anything left off may be blamed on you at move-out.
Have a Michigan lease to sign?
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Deposit rules in neighbouring states
Deposit limits are set state by state, and 3 of the 3 states bordering Michigan use a different one. A lease template borrowed from next door may carry the wrong figure.
Nationally: 0 of 51 jurisdictions set no statutory deposit cap, and 16 set no statutory entry-notice period.
Michigan landlord-tenant figures summarized as of October 2026; deposit caps and entry rules change, and localities may add their own. This is automated educational information, not legal advice. ClauseAudit verifies the current rule against Michigan law when you run your lease, and you should confirm anything critical with a qualified Michigan attorney.