What Must a Michigan Lease Agreement Include in 2026?

What clauses are legally required in every Michigan lease agreement?

Every Michigan lease should identify the landlord/agent and all adult tenants, the property, the rent and due date, and the term. Two Michigan statutes add specific requirements: the security-deposit notice rules (below) and the Truth in Renting Act, which requires the lease to be legible, to state the landlord's name and address for notice, and to carry a required notice statement — while voiding a list of prohibited clauses.

The Truth in Renting Act (MCL 554.633–554.634) voids lease provisions that, for example, provide for a confession of judgment, waive the tenant's right to a jury trial or statutory notice, exculpate the landlord from liability for failing to perform a legal duty, or waive the warranty of habitability. The lease must also include, in at least 12-point type, the statutory notice that the agreement must comply with the Truth in Renting Act and that the tenant may seek legal advice about its provisions.

Michigan security deposit rules — the 14-day notice and 30-day return

Michigan's deposit rules are strict and specific:

• Cap: the deposit may not exceed 1.5 months' rent (MCL 554.602).
• Where held: the deposit must be kept in a regulated financial institution, or the landlord may use the funds if it files a cash or surety bond with the Secretary of State (MCL 554.604).
• 14-day notice (MCL 554.603): within 14 days of the tenant taking possession, the landlord must give written notice of its name and address, the name and address of the bank or surety, and the tenant's obligation to provide a forwarding address within 4 days of moving. This notice must include, in 12-point boldface type at least 4 points larger than the body, the statutory forwarding-address warning.
• Return (MCL 554.609–554.612): within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must mail an itemized list of damages with a check for the balance. Failure to do so within 30 days means no damages are due and the full deposit must be returned (MCL 554.610). The tenant has 7 days to dispute the list, and the landlord must return the disputed balance or file suit within 45 days.

For a multi-state comparison, see security deposit rules every landlord must know.

Late fees and rent rules in Michigan

Michigan does not set a statewide statutory cap on residential late fees and does not require a grace period. A late fee is enforceable if it is written into the lease and is reasonable rather than a penalty; courts generally treat a modest percentage (around 5%) as reasonable. Because there is no statutory safe harbor, keep the fee modest and clearly stated.

Notice periods to end or not renew a Michigan lease

Michigan notice periods:

For a month-to-month tenancy, either party gives notice equal to the rental period (one month where rent is paid monthly). Nonpayment requires a 7-day demand for possession before the landlord may bring summary proceedings. Self-help eviction is unlawful.

What disclosures must Michigan landlords provide?

Michigan's required disclosures are focused but specific:

• Security-deposit notice (MCL 554.603): the 14-day written notice of the bank and the forwarding-address obligation is itself a required disclosure.
• Truth in Renting notice (MCL 554.634): the required 12-point notice statement in the lease.
• Domestic-violence release notice (MCL 554.601b): the lease must either contain the statutory notice about a tenant's right to seek release from the lease due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or the landlord must post or deliver that notice.
• Lead-based paint (federal): signed disclosure, records, and the EPA pamphlet for pre-1978 housing.

What happens if a Michigan lease is missing required terms?

Specific failures carry specific consequences:

• Missed 30-day itemized notice: the landlord is deemed to owe no damages and must return the full deposit (MCL 554.610).
• Wrongful retention: a landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith can be liable for double the amount wrongfully retained.
• Prohibited or missing Truth in Renting clauses: prohibited provisions are void, and a landlord who fails to fix a non-compliant lease within 20 days of written notice can be sued to void the lease (Truth in Renting Act).

Managing rentals in more than one state? Compare Michigan's rules with our Ohio and Illinois lease requirement guides.

Full Michigan disclosure checklist

For a dedicated, statute-by-statute rundown of every notice a Michigan landlord must give at signing, see our Michigan required lease disclosures checklist.

Official sources

Primary statutes and official government references for this guide. Statutes change — always confirm against the current official text before you act.

• MCL § 554.601 et seq. (Security Deposits)
• Federal lead-based paint disclosure rule (Section 1018 of Title X; 42 U.S.C. § 4852d) — US EPA