10 of the 10 rules below carry a statute citation that was read at the official source (most recently October 2026), with the controlling text quoted. The rest are conservative reference values from Aptoria's compliance data and are labeled unverified.
Security deposit size: A security deposit may not exceed 1 1/2 months' rent. (MCL § 554.602, confirmed 2026-10). Returning the deposit: Within 30 days after the termination of occupancy, mail an itemized list of damages claimed (with estimated repair costs) plus a check for the balance. The notice must carry, in bold larger type, the statement that the tenant must respond by mail within 7 days or forfeit the amount claimed. Failing to notify within 30 days means the landlord agrees no damages are due and must remit the full deposit. (MCL § 554.609, confirmed 2026-07).
How Michigan treats the landlord's core obligations
Late fees: No statutory cap on late fees and no mandatory grace period. A late fee may be charged if the lease provides for it, but per the Michigan Legislature's official guide the amount 'must be reasonable and proportionate to the actual damages suffered'. The Truth in Renting Act separately voids any lease clause imposing a fee on every available rent-payment method (MCL 554.633(1)(o)). (Michigan Legislature, A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords, Question 12; Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.633(1)(o), confirmed 2026-10). Application fees: No statewide cap on rental application or screening fees. The Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act regulates only 'security deposits' (amounts held for the term and returnable to the tenant, MCL 554.601(d)) and the Truth in Renting Act's list of prohibited lease provisions (MCL 554.633) contains no application-fee rule. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.601(d); § 554.633, confirmed 2026-10).
Nonpayment notice: Nonpayment: landlord may serve a written 7-day demand for possession / notice to quit; summary proceedings may be filed if the tenant has not paid or moved within 7 days from service of the demand. (MCL § 600.5714(1)(a); MCL § 554.134(2), confirmed 2026-10). Rent increases: No statute sets a specific rent-increase notice period and no statewide rent cap exists (local rent control preempted by MCL 123.411). For a month-to-month tenancy the increase runs through the termination rule: either party may end the tenancy on one month's notice, or notice equal to the rental interval when rent is payable at periods of less than three months (MCL 554.134(1)). During a lease term a landlord may not alter rent without the tenant's written consent, except that the lease may allow pass-through increases for property taxes, utilities or insurance on not less than 30 days' written notice (MCL 554.633(1)(l)(iii)). (Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.134(1); § 554.633(1)(l), confirmed 2026-10). Ending a month-to-month tenancy: An estate at will (month-to-month) may be terminated by either party on 1 month's notice; where rent is payable at intervals shorter than 3 months, notice equal to the interval between payments is sufficient. (MCL § 554.134(1), confirmed 2026-10). Entry: No statutory minimum notice period for landlord entry; neither the Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act nor the Truth in Renting Act addresses entry, so access terms are set by the lease. The lessor's statutory covenant to keep the premises in reasonable repair during the term (MCL 554.139(1)(b)) is the closest governing rule and implies access for repairs. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.139(1), confirmed 2026-10).
Michigan has no statewide rent regulation on file, so any cap on increases would come from a local ordinance. Source-of-income protection is on file statewide, so voucher and benefit income must be treated like any other lawful income in screening and advertising. Card surcharges on rent: allowed within card-network limits. Managing property for others for compensation generally requires a state license: MI Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) amendment eff. April 2, 2025: SOI protection for landlords with 5+ units.
Security deposits
What Michigan allows a landlord to collect up front, how it must be held, and the deadline and paperwork for returning it.
Security deposit limit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
A security deposit may not exceed 1 1/2 months' rent.
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “1.5× monthly rent”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The maximum a landlord may collect up front as security against unpaid rent or damage, usually expressed as a multiple of one month's rent. Separate pet, key or cleaning deposits often count toward the same limit.
Deposit return deadline
Source-confirmed 2026-07
Within 30 days after the termination of occupancy, mail an itemized list of damages claimed (with estimated repair costs) plus a check for the balance. The notice must carry, in bold larger type, the statement that the tenant must respond by mail within 7 days or forfeit the amount claimed. Failing to notify within 30 days means the landlord agrees no damages are due and must remit the full deposit.
Michigan requires specific bold notice language and a move-in inventory checklist (MCL 554.608); the tenant has 7 days to respond to the damages notice.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days after move-out”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The window after the tenant vacates in which the landlord must refund the deposit or deliver an itemized statement of deductions. Missing the deadline is the most common way a landlord forfeits the right to keep any part of the deposit.
Separate pet deposit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statute authorizes or prohibits a separate pet deposit. 'Security deposit' means a deposit 'in any amount' held for the term including 'any other amount of money or property returnable to the tenant on condition of return of the rental unit' in the required condition (MCL 554.601(d)), so a refundable pet deposit is a security deposit and the combined total may not exceed 1 1/2 months' rent (MCL 554.602).
“A landlord may require a security deposit for each rental unit. A security deposit shall be required and maintained in accordance with the terms of this act and shall not exceed 1 1/2 months' rent.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Definition at https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-554-601: 'a deposit, in any amount, paid by the tenant to the landlord ... and any other amount of money or property returnable to the tenant on condition of return of the rental unit by the tenant in condition as required by the rental agreement.' Neither section mentions pets; a non-refundable pet fee is not addressed by the act.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “Permitted”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Whether a refundable pet deposit can be collected on top of the security deposit. Even where it is permitted, the combined amount usually has to stay inside the overall deposit limit.
In practice
• Hold the deposit the way the statute requires (separate or escrow account where applicable) and record the account in the file.
• Document move-in condition with a dated, photographed inventory the tenant can sign; it is the only evidence that supports a later deduction.
• Send the itemized statement and any refund by a trackable method, and keep the receipts or estimates behind every deduction.
Rent, late fees and application fees
The fees a Michigan lease can charge, the statutory ceilings that override the lease, and whether rent increases are regulated statewide.
Late fees
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statutory cap on late fees and no mandatory grace period. A late fee may be charged if the lease provides for it, but per the Michigan Legislature's official guide the amount 'must be reasonable and proportionate to the actual damages suffered'. The Truth in Renting Act separately voids any lease clause imposing a fee on every available rent-payment method (MCL 554.633(1)(o)).
“In general, yes, a landlord may charge a tenant a fee for paying the rent late. However, the amount charged for a late fee must be reasonable and proportionate to the actual damages suffered as a result of the late payment.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Quote is from the Legislature's guide (PDF text extracted), not a statute; no Michigan statute sets a late-fee cap or grace period (MCL 554.601-554.616 and 554.631-554.641 checked). MCL 554.633(1)(o): a rental agreement must not 'Impose[] an additional charge or fee on all methods for the payment of rent allowed under the lease agreement.'
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap (reasonableness standard)”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Any statutory ceiling on the fee for late rent and any mandatory grace period before it can be charged. Where there is no statutory cap, courts still strike fees they find punitive rather than a reasonable estimate of the landlord's cost.
Application fee limit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statewide cap on rental application or screening fees. The Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act regulates only 'security deposits' (amounts held for the term and returnable to the tenant, MCL 554.601(d)) and the Truth in Renting Act's list of prohibited lease provisions (MCL 554.633) contains no application-fee rule.
“"Security deposit" means a deposit, in any amount, paid by the tenant to the landlord or the landlord's agent to be held for the term of the rental agreement, or any part of the term, and includes any required prepayment of rent other than the first full rental period of the lease agreement”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Absence finding confirmed against the official text of MCL 554.601, 554.602 and the full MCL 554.633(1)(a)-(o) list; no application-fee provision exists in either act.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
A cap on what an applicant can be charged to apply, sometimes limited to the actual cost of screening and sometimes prohibited outright. Fee receipts and refund rules usually travel with the cap.
Statewide rent regulation
Source-confirmed 2026-10
Posture (b): statewide prohibition of local rent control. A local governmental unit (county, city, village, township) shall not enact, maintain or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property (MCL 123.411(2)); exceptions only for property the local unit owns or has an interest in, and voluntary incentive programs. No statewide rent cap exists.
“Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a local governmental unit shall not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
1988 PA 226, as amended by 2018 PA 585 (eff. Mar. 28, 2019).
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide rent regulation (check local ordinances)”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Whether a statewide law caps annual rent increases or whether rent control exists for covered units. Local ordinances can add limits even where the state has none.
In practice
• State the late fee, the grace period and the application fee in the lease in dollars or a clear percentage; a fee that is not in the lease is rarely enforceable.
• Never charge above the statutory cap even when the lease says more; the excess is unenforceable and can expose the landlord to penalties.
• Keep fee calculations in the ledger so a tenant, a court or an auditor can reproduce them from the rent roll.
Notices, rent increases and termination
How much written notice Michigan requires before a rent increase, before ending a month-to-month tenancy, and before filing for nonpayment.
Rent-increase notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statute sets a specific rent-increase notice period and no statewide rent cap exists (local rent control preempted by MCL 123.411). For a month-to-month tenancy the increase runs through the termination rule: either party may end the tenancy on one month's notice, or notice equal to the rental interval when rent is payable at periods of less than three months (MCL 554.134(1)). During a lease term a landlord may not alter rent without the tenant's written consent, except that the lease may allow pass-through increases for property taxes, utilities or insurance on not less than 30 days' written notice (MCL 554.633(1)(l)(iii)).
“an estate at will or by sufferance may be terminated by either party by giving 1 month's notice to the other party. If the rent reserved in a lease is payable at periods of less than 3 months, the time of notice is sufficient if it is equal to the interval between the times of payment.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
MCL 554.633(1)(l) (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-554-633): a rental agreement must not provide 'that a lessor may alter a provision of the rental agreement after its commencement without the written consent of the tenant', except listed adjustments 'on written notice of not less than 30 days'. Absence-of-rule finding; mechanism is the statutory termination notice.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The written notice a landlord must give before a rent increase takes effect on a periodic (month-to-month) tenancy. Fixed-term leases generally cannot be changed mid-term.
Month-to-month termination notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
An estate at will (month-to-month) may be terminated by either party on 1 month's notice; where rent is payable at intervals shorter than 3 months, notice equal to the interval between payments is sufficient.
“an estate at will or by sufferance may be terminated by either party by giving 1 month's notice to the other party.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The notice a landlord must give to end a periodic tenancy without cause. Some jurisdictions require longer notice for long-term tenants or require a stated cause.
Pay-or-quit notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
Nonpayment: landlord may serve a written 7-day demand for possession / notice to quit; summary proceedings may be filed if the tenant has not paid or moved within 7 days from service of the demand.
“within 7 days from the service of a written demand for possession for nonpayment of the rent due.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
MCL 554.134(2) read at https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-554-134: 'the landlord may terminate the tenancy by giving the tenant a written 7-day notice to quit.' Use SCAO form DC 100a.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “7 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The notice a tenant must receive for nonpayment before the landlord can file for possession, and the time the tenant has to pay in full and cure. This is the step most often done wrong in an eviction.
In practice
• Serve notices in the form and by the method the statute names, and keep proof of service with the dated notice.
• Count notice periods the way the statute counts them (calendar days, business days, or "before the next rent due date") and build in a margin.
• Treat a notice to a possibly rent-regulated or subsidized unit as a legal check, because longer periods and extra content requirements usually apply.
Landlord entry
When a Michigan landlord may enter an occupied unit and how much notice the tenant must receive.
Non-emergency entry notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statutory minimum notice period for landlord entry; neither the Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act nor the Truth in Renting Act addresses entry, so access terms are set by the lease. The lessor's statutory covenant to keep the premises in reasonable repair during the term (MCL 554.139(1)(b)) is the closest governing rule and implies access for repairs.
“In every lease or license of residential premises, the lessor or licensor covenants: (a) That the premises and all common areas are fit for the use intended by the parties. (b) To keep the premises in reasonable repair during the term of the lease or license”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
none states an entry-notice period. The Legislature's 'A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords' (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Publications/TenantLandlord.pdf) likewise contains no entry-notice rule.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “Reasonable notice”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The advance notice required before a landlord enters an occupied unit for repairs, inspections or showings. Emergencies are the usual exception.
In practice
• Give written notice with the date, a reasonable time window and the purpose, and log the entry afterwards.
• Emergencies are the only common exception; document what made the entry urgent.
• A pattern of unannounced entries is a common basis for tenant complaints and counterclaims.
Payments, fair housing and licensing
Operational rules that sit outside the landlord-tenant act but decide how rent can be collected, who can be screened out, and who may manage for others.
Card surcharges on rent
Allowed within card-network limits
Returned-payment (NSF) fee
No statewide statutory cap on file
Source-of-income protection
Protected statewide
Local ordinances can extend protection beyond the statewide rule.
Property-management licensing
License generally required to manage for others
MI Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) amendment eff. April 2, 2025: SOI protection for landlords with 5+ units.
Compliance posture values are reference data compiled from public statutes and are not source-confirmed line by line. Confirm with the state agency before relying on them.
Michigan next to its neighbors
Own units on both sides of a state line? These are the reference values for every bordering jurisdiction. Open a state to see which values carry a citation.
Federal and state disclosures Aptoria's lease workflow surfaces for Michigan. This is a working checklist from public sources, not a complete legal inventory for a specific property.
• Lead-based paint hazards (pre-1978 housing) — EPA Pamphlet "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home"
• Move-in inventory checklist
• Truth in Renting Act notice
Official sources
Primary sources a Michigan landlord should bookmark. Each link was fetched and read during the October 2026 review; the binding text is always the current official version.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Michigan?
A security deposit may not exceed 1 1/2 months' rent. (MCL § 554.602, confirmed 2026-10).
How long does a Michigan landlord have to return the security deposit?
Within 30 days after the termination of occupancy, mail an itemized list of damages claimed (with estimated repair costs) plus a check for the balance. The notice must carry, in bold larger type, the statement that the tenant must respond by mail within 7 days or forfeit the amount claimed. Failing to notify within 30 days means the landlord agrees no damages are due and must remit the full deposit. (MCL § 554.609, confirmed 2026-07).
What is the maximum late fee in Michigan?
No statutory cap on late fees and no mandatory grace period. A late fee may be charged if the lease provides for it, but per the Michigan Legislature's official guide the amount 'must be reasonable and proportionate to the actual damages suffered'. The Truth in Renting Act separately voids any lease clause imposing a fee on every available rent-payment method (MCL 554.633(1)(o)). (Michigan Legislature, A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords, Question 12; Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.633(1)(o), confirmed 2026-10).
How many days does a Michigan pay-or-quit notice give the tenant?
Nonpayment: landlord may serve a written 7-day demand for possession / notice to quit; summary proceedings may be filed if the tenant has not paid or moved within 7 days from service of the demand. (MCL § 600.5714(1)(a); MCL § 554.134(2), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice must a Michigan landlord give before entering?
No statutory minimum notice period for landlord entry; neither the Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act nor the Truth in Renting Act addresses entry, so access terms are set by the lease. The lessor's statutory covenant to keep the premises in reasonable repair during the term (MCL 554.139(1)(b)) is the closest governing rule and implies access for repairs. (Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.139(1), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice is required to raise rent in Michigan?
No statute sets a specific rent-increase notice period and no statewide rent cap exists (local rent control preempted by MCL 123.411). For a month-to-month tenancy the increase runs through the termination rule: either party may end the tenancy on one month's notice, or notice equal to the rental interval when rent is payable at periods of less than three months (MCL 554.134(1)). During a lease term a landlord may not alter rent without the tenant's written consent, except that the lease may allow pass-through increases for property taxes, utilities or insurance on not less than 30 days' written notice (MCL 554.633(1)(l)(iii)). (Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.134(1); § 554.633(1)(l), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice is required to end a month-to-month tenancy in Michigan?
An estate at will (month-to-month) may be terminated by either party on 1 month's notice; where rent is payable at intervals shorter than 3 months, notice equal to the interval between payments is sufficient. (MCL § 554.134(1), confirmed 2026-10).
Does Michigan have statewide rent control?
No statewide rent regulation is on file for Michigan. Local ordinances can still limit increases, so check the city or county where the unit sits before setting a renewal rent.
Is source of income a protected class in Michigan?
Statewide source-of-income protection is on file for Michigan. Screening criteria, advertising and income calculations must treat vouchers and benefit income like other lawful income. Local rules can add further protections.
Can a Michigan landlord add a surcharge for paying rent by card?
Allowed within card-network limits. Where a surcharge is allowed, it must still follow card-network rules and be disclosed before payment.
How this page was verified
Every rule is shown in one of two states. “Source-confirmed” means an editor opened the official statute page named next to the rule on the date shown, read the controlling text, and recorded the excerpt you see; the excerpt is quoted verbatim so you can check it. “Reference value” means Aptoria's compliance engine applies a conservative number for this rule, but nobody has yet tied it to a specific statute section on this page, so it must be checked before you rely on it.
This page meets Aptoria's evidence floor for publication (10 source-confirmed rules and 5 fetched official sources). Statutes change; local ordinances can be stricter; the facts of a tenancy change the result.