The Michigan residential lease agreement (“rental agreement”) is used by a landlord to rent a residential property for a fixed period of time. The terms are typically agreed upon by both landlord and tenant. The form becomes a legal contract after both parties have provided their signatures.
Create an official Michigan standard residential lease agreement (see above), download a free and fillable template form (see Word and PDF buttons) or read further to learn about Michigan state laws regarding rental leases.
Michigan Lease Disclosures & Addendums
The following disclosures or addendums are either required for some or all residential lease agreements in Michigan.
- Landlord’s Name & Address – for all rental units in Michigan.
- Truth in Renting Act Disclosure – for all rental units in Michigan.
- Domestic Violence Protection Disclosure – for all rental units in Michigan.
- Move-in Checklist – for rental units in Michigan that charge a security deposit.
- Lead Based Paint Disclosure – for rental units in Michigan built prior to 1978.
There are also a number of optional disclosures and addendums that help reduce future conflicts and/or legal liability in Michigan.
Landlord’s Name & Address
Applicable to all rental units in Michigan.
So that future legal notices and demands sent to the landlord can be properly delivered, the name and address of either the landlord or the person authorized to act on the landlord’s behalf must be disclosed in the lease agreement .
Truth in Renting Act Disclosure
Applicable to all rental units in Michigan.
As part of the Truth in Renting Act, all residential lease agreements in Michigan must include a general statement of the rights a tenant has under state law . This law provides the exact language to be used for the disclosure (below).
NOTICE: Michigan law establishes rights and obligations for parties to rental agreements. This agreement is required to comply with the Truth in Renting Act. If you have a question about the interpretation or legality of a provision of this agreement, you may want to seek assistance from a lawyer or other qualified person.
Domestic Violence Protection Disclosure
Applicable to all rental units in Michigan.
Michigan requires all lease agreements to include a specific notice on protection from domestic abuse, which allows a tenant with a certified proof of domestic violence victim status to be released of their lease obligation no later than 31 days after the rent is due after the notice is given . Michigan state law provides the exact language to be used for this disclosure in residential lease agreements (below).
A tenant who has a reasonable apprehension of present danger to him or her or his or her child from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking may have special statutory rights to seek a release of rental obligation under MCL 554.601b.
Move-In Checklist
Applicable to all rental units in Michigan.
Michigan landlords that intend to charge a security deposit are required to provide an inventory of the rental unit’s condition . This checklist, which must be identical to the one used upon move out, does not necessarily have to be attached to the lease agreement, but it does need to be provided to the tenant within 7 days of the move-in date .
The checklist should include any present damage or specific furnishings that are included (such as appliances or furniture) that must be returned in the same state they were upon move-in. Additionally, the checklist is required to have the following notice in legible writing at the top of the document :
You should complete this checklist, noting the condition of the rental property, and return it to the landlord within 7 days after obtaining possession of the rental unit. You are also entitled to request and receive a copy of the last termination inventory checklist which shows what claims were chargeable to the last prior tenants.
Here is an example of a checklist that is sufficient for meeting state requirements.
Lead Based Paint Disclosure
Applicable to any rental units built prior to 1978.
It is a federal law in the United States that any home built prior to 1978 must disclose the risks posed by lead-based paints. This law requires landlords in Michigan to:
- Fill out and attach this lead based paint disclosure form to the lease agreement.
- Provide the tenant with an EPA-approved pamphlet about the dangers of lead-based paint.
- Provide additional records or reports about the presence or hazards of any known lead based paint in the unit. For multi-unit buildings with common areas, this includes information from building-wide evaluations.
Optional Disclosures & Addendums (Recommended)
The following lease agreement disclosures and addendums are not required by Michigan law in residential lease agreements, but either help reduce future conflicts with tenants or reduce legal liability for landlords.
- Marijuana Use – it is recommended to state where marijuana use is and isn’t allowed on the property so that expectations are clear. Michigan law allows landlords to restrict marijuana usage to non-smoking methods only or control where users can smoke so as to not interfere with other tenants.
- Shared Utilities Arrangements – for rental units with shared utilities, it is recommended to disclose the specifics of how they are shared, and how each party’s bill is calculated, so that tenants have a reasonable expectation of what they owe each month.
- Bed Bug Disclosure – for rental units with a history of infestation, it is recommended to establish an understanding of the current status of bed bugs at the property in case of a future infestation and to provide information on the protocol for handling one.
- Asbestos Disclosure – for rental units in buildings built prior to 1981 (which are considered at-risk for asbestos), it is recommended to establish an understanding of any prior knowledge on the existence of asbestos on the property.
- Mold Disclosure – it is recommended to disclose the current mold status of a property in the lease to protect against future liability of mold damages due to tenant negligence during the lease term.
- Late or Returned Check Fees – to make sure fees for late or returned checks hold up in court if ever challenged, it is highly recommended to specifically outline them beforehand in the lease agreement. It’s also worth noting that the maximum limit for returned or bounced checks in Michigan is $25 (if paid within 7 days) or $35 (if paid within 30 days).
