What a Landlord Cannot Do in Michigan: Tenant Rights Guide

Renting a home in Michigan involves more than paying monthly rent and signing a lease. Both landlords and tenants have specific rights and responsibilities that shape every part of the rental relationship. But not everyone knows where the legal boundaries actually are.

Michigan landlord tenant law sets clear rules that property owners must follow—from how they handle rent payments to what they can legally ask of tenants. When those rules are ignored, it can lead to disputes, fines, or even eviction proceedings.

This guide breaks down what a landlord cannot do in Michigan so you can stay informed and one step ahead.

Think your landlord can change the locks or withhold your deposit at will? Think again.

Landlord Tenant Law in Michigan

Understanding landlord tenant law in Michigan is the first step toward building a rental experience rooted in fairness, transparency, and legal compliance.

At the heart of these laws are a few key acts that set the foundation for how landlords and tenants must treat each other.

The Michigan Landlord-Tenant Relationship Act outlines the basic rights and duties of both parties.

This includes rules on lease agreements, rent collection, and proper notice before entering a rental unit. It ensures that tenants are not left guessing when it comes to their housing situation, and it gives landlords clear guidelines to manage properties lawfully.

Alongside this, the Truth-in-Renting Act requires landlords to provide honest, accurate information in rental agreements. It prohibits misleading lease terms—like clauses that suggest a tenant has no right to withhold rent if a landlord fails to make necessary repairs.

If a lease includes any illegal terms, that part of the agreement becomes void under Michigan law.

Federal protections also play a critical role. The Fair Housing Act and Michigan’s own civil rights laws make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants or prospective tenants based on race, national origin, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or marital status.

For example, a property manager refusing to rent to a single mother simply because she has children would be violating fair housing laws.

Together, these laws create a framework that protects both sides. They safeguard tenant rights, ensure rental units meet minimum standards, and hold landlords accountable when they cross legal lines.

Ignoring these rules can lead to serious consequences, including lawsuits, financial penalties, and action in Michigan small claims court.

What a Landlord Cannot Do in Michigan

1. A Landlord Cannot Evict an Active Duty Service Member

Not every missed rent payment gives a landlord the right to start the eviction process—especially when the tenant is serving in the military.

Under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), landlords in Michigan must follow strict legal procedures before attempting to evict an active duty service member or their dependents from a residential property.

The SCRA was designed to prevent financial hardship for military personnel who are deployed or otherwise unable to meet financial obligations due to service.

One major protection under this act is that a landlord cannot evict a qualifying tenant for unpaid rent without first getting a court order. This applies to both traditional rental agreements and subsidized senior housing where service members or their families reside.

If the court finds that military service is affecting the tenant’s ability to pay rent, the judge can delay the eviction proceedings for a minimum of 90 days. In some cases, the court may halt the action even longer, depending on the circumstances.

Michigan landlords are also legally required to inform the court of the tenant’s active duty status, and failure to do so can result in penalties or dismissal of the case.

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2. A Landlord Must Not Commit Discrimination or Violate Fair Housing Laws

Fairness isn’t optional—it’s the law. Whether you’re applying for a rental unit or renewing a lease agreement, every person deserves the same opportunity to secure housing without facing bias or unfair treatment.

That’s where Michigan’s strong fair housing protections come into play.

Under both the federal Fair Housing Act and Michigan law, landlords cannot discriminate against tenants or prospective tenants based on protected characteristics. These include race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, and weight.

Refusing to rent, charging higher monthly rent, limiting amenities, or enforcing stricter lease terms for someone based on these traits is illegal.

Michigan rental laws continue to evolve.

Starting April 2, 2025, landlords in Michigan must also treat all lawful sources of income equally. That means it’s unlawful to reject someone simply because they rely on Section 8 housing vouchers, emergency rental assistance, or government benefits like disability or social security.

These income sources are now protected, ensuring more Michigan tenants get a fair shot at housing.

Landlords also cannot engage in harassment, intimidation, or retaliation based on a tenant’s protected status. For example, if a landlord tries to evict a tenant after they file a housing discrimination complaint, that’s considered landlord retaliation—an act that can trigger serious legal consequences.

3. A Landlord Cannot Enter the Rental Unit Without Proper Notice or Invade Privacy

Imagine settling into your rental unit after a long day, only to find your landlord unlocking the door without warning. It’s not just unsettling—it’s likely illegal.

Michigan law protects your right to privacy, and that includes limiting when and why a landlord can enter your space.

While property owners have responsibilities like maintaining the unit or conducting inspections, they can’t just walk in whenever they choose. Michigan landlords must provide reasonable notice—usually at least 24 hours—before entering a rental property, unless there’s an emergency like a burst pipe or fire.

Permissible reasons for entry include making necessary repairs, performing safety inspections, or showing the unit to future tenants or buyers.

Even then, landlords must act within reasonable hours and avoid disrupting your quiet enjoyment of the home.

Entering a unit without proper notice or a valid reason isn’t just poor landlord etiquette—it’s a violation of Michigan landlord tenant law. Tenants may have the right to pursue legal action, and landlords could face penalties for overstepping these boundaries.

Respecting tenant rights isn’t optional; it’s part of maintaining lawful and respectful landlord tenant relationships.

4. A Landlord Is Required to Provide Habitable Living Conditions

No one rents a home expecting to live with broken heat in winter or leaky plumbing that damages their belongings. Yet, when landlords neglect basic repairs, they violate more than just trust—they violate Michigan rental laws.

Under the “implied warranty of habitability,” landlords in Michigan are legally required to maintain rental properties in a safe, sanitary, and livable condition. This means supplying essential services like working heat, running water, electricity, and keeping the rental unit in compliance with local health and safety codes.

If a landlord fails to meet these obligations—even after receiving written notice—tenants are not powerless.

Michigan tenants may have the right to withhold rent, place it in an escrow account, or make the necessary repairs themselves and deduct the cost from future rent payments.

In severe cases where a landlord fails to act, the tenant may also terminate the lease early or take the matter to Michigan small claims court.

Landlords must treat property maintenance as a non-negotiable responsibility. Ignoring these duties isn’t just inconvenient for tenants—it’s a breach of the lease agreement and can carry serious legal consequences for the landlord.

5. A Landlord Should Not Take Retaliatory Actions Against Tenants

Speaking up about unsafe conditions or unfair treatment shouldn’t come with consequences—but for some tenants, it does. Fortunately, Michigan law draws a hard line against landlord retaliation.

If you’ve filed a complaint about housing code violations, reported the landlord to local authorities, or joined a tenant rights group, your landlord cannot legally respond by raising your monthly rent, cutting off essential services like water or heat, or starting eviction proceedings just to get back at you.

These are all clear examples of retaliatory conduct, and they are prohibited under Michigan landlord tenant laws.

Let’s say you report persistent mold to the city’s housing department, and a week later your landlord gives you a notice to vacate without valid reason. That’s not just suspicious—it may be unlawful.

Michigan tenants have the right to challenge these actions and can even sue for damages if retaliation is proven.

Landlords must understand that protecting tenant rights isn’t optional.

Retaliation only undermines landlord tenant relationships and exposes property owners to serious legal and financial risks.

6. A Landlord Must Not Use Self-Help or Other Illegal Eviction Practices

Being behind on rent doesn’t give a landlord a free pass to take matters into their own hands. Yet, some still try—by shutting off utilities, changing the locks, or tossing out a tenant’s belongings without following the law.

In Michigan, these “self-help” eviction tactics aren’t just aggressive—they’re illegal.

Landlords in Michigan must follow proper legal procedures when removing a tenant from a rental property. That process begins with giving written notice, followed by filing for eviction in court if the issue isn’t resolved.

Only after a judge rules in favor of the landlord can an eviction proceed—and even then, only law enforcement has the authority to remove a tenant.

If a landlord skips this process and tries to force a tenant out on their own, the penalties are steep. Tenants may be entitled to recover actual damages or $200 per violation, whichever is greater.

On top of that, they can reclaim possession of the rental unit.

Michigan rental laws are clear: landlords cannot take shortcuts when it comes to evictions.

Following the legal path not only protects tenant rights—it shields landlords from lawsuits, fines, and long-term damage to their credibility as property owners.

7. A Landlord Cannot Interfere with a Tenant’s Right to Use and Enjoy the Property

Your home should feel like a safe and peaceful place—not a battleground between you and your landlord. Unfortunately, some landlords in Michigan cross the line by constantly showing up unannounced, disrupting daily routines, or harassing tenants until they feel pressured to leave.

Michigan rental laws protect your right to “quiet enjoyment,” a legal concept that ensures you can use and enjoy your rental unit without unreasonable interference.

This includes freedom from repeated, unannounced visits, loud or disruptive maintenance during odd hours, or aggressive behavior meant to intimidate you into moving out.

Let’s say your landlord begins texting and calling you daily after a minor disagreement, or starts entering the unit frequently without a valid reason. These actions may seem subtle, but they can quickly become a form of landlord harassment—one that Michigan tenants can challenge in court.

If a landlord’s behavior interferes with your ability to live peacefully in your home, you may have grounds to seek damages or even terminate the lease early.

Landlords must understand that respecting tenant rights isn’t just good practice—it’s the law.

8. A Landlord Must Follow the Lease Agreement Without Violations

Just because a lease is signed doesn’t mean the landlord gets to make up the rules as they go. In Michigan, a lease agreement is more than a formality—it’s a legally binding contract that landlords must follow to the letter.

Unfortunately, some landlords try to sneak in unfair or misleading clauses that waive tenant rights, charge excessive fees, or shift maintenance responsibilities that legally belong to them.

That’s where the Michigan Truth-in-Renting Act steps in.

This law prohibits any language in a written rental agreement that conflicts with tenant protections under state or federal laws. If a lease contains such terms, they are unenforceable—and could even expose the landlord to legal action.

Landlords in Michigan also cannot make sudden rule changes, rent increases, or policy shifts unless the lease agreement specifically allows it. For example, if a lease sets the monthly rent for a fixed term, the landlord cannot raise it mid-lease without your written consent.

Security deposit handling is another common area where landlords fall short.

Michigan rental laws require landlords to provide notice of where the tenant’s security deposit is held (often in a regulated financial institution) and to return it within 30 days of when the tenant moves out, minus deductions for unpaid rent or damages beyond normal wear and tear.

Lease terms exist to create stability and predictability for both landlords and tenants.

When property owners ignore their own agreements, they not only violate Michigan law—they risk damaging trust, losing tenants, and facing costly legal disputes.

Conclusion

Michigan rental laws weren’t written to complicate renting—they exist to protect you. Whether you’re the one paying rent or managing the property, these rules are designed to create a fair balance, prevent abuse, and ensure everyone lives up to their end of the lease agreement.

For tenants, that means peace of mind—knowing your landlord can’t barge in unannounced, withhold your security deposit without reason, or evict you without due process. For landlords, it’s a clear rulebook that, when followed, builds trust and keeps rental relationships running smoothly.

If you’re dealing with a potential violation or facing eviction, especially as an active duty service member, make sure your rights are protected.

SCRACVS can help law firms, landlords, and companies verify military status to ensure compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

Visit SCRACVS to request verification or learn more about your responsibilities under federal law.

Need Military Verification Without an SSN?

SCRAcvs assists you in active duty verification—no SSN required. Confirm SCRA eligibility quickly and confidently before taking any legal action.

Verify Military Status Now

FAQs

Can you withhold rent for repairs in Michigan?

Yes, under Michigan landlord tenant law, you may withhold rent if your landlord fails to make necessary repairs that affect your health or safety. However, you must first provide written notice and give the landlord a reasonable amount of time to fix the issue. If they still don’t act, tenants can place rent payments into an escrow account until repairs are made. It’s important to document everything and follow proper legal procedures to avoid claims of unpaid rent.

What are considered uninhabitable living situations for a tenant in Michigan?

Michigan rental laws require landlords to keep rental units safe and livable. Uninhabitable conditions include no heat in winter, broken plumbing, dangerous electrical wiring, pest infestations, or severe structural issues. These violate the landlord’s responsibilities under the implied warranty of habitability. If such conditions persist after written notice, Michigan tenants may have the right to withhold rent, seek a court order, or even terminate the lease early.

What is considered normal wear and tear on a rental property?

Normal wear and tear refers to the gradual, expected deterioration of a rental unit over time. This might include faded paint, minor carpet wear, or loose door hinges. Under Michigan landlord tenant law, tenants are not responsible for these changes. However, damages caused by negligence or lease violations—like broken windows or holes in the wall—may be deducted from the tenant’s security deposit. Landlords must clearly document and differentiate between damage and wear.

Can a landlord hold you responsible for repairs?

Generally, landlords in Michigan are responsible for maintaining the rental property, including repairs that affect health or safety. A tenant may only be held responsible if the damage resulted from misuse, neglect, or violation of the lease agreement. For instance, a broken fixture due to improper use could become the tenant’s obligation. Still, landlords cannot shift all maintenance duties to tenants in a written rental agreement, as that violates the Truth-in-Renting Act.

Can my landlord use my electricity without my permission?

No, landlords in Michigan cannot use a tenant’s utilities—like electricity—without explicit permission. Doing so may violate tenant rights and could be considered an invasion of privacy or unauthorized use of services. If utilities are included in the monthly rent, the rental agreement should outline that clearly. Otherwise, if the tenant pays their own utility bills, landlords must not tap into those services. Tenants can report such behavior under local laws or seek legal action.