Building Department

Landlord/tenant laws in Michigan spell out many tenant rights such as the right to live in a safe house or apartment and the right to withhold rent if the landlord refuses to make repairs necessary to deem your rental property a safe place to live. Also, the right to be protected against eviction for reporting these conditions to the authority having jurisdiction.

Renters in Michigan are entitled by law to rental property which is structurally sound, which offers a healthy interior environment, and which is in generally good repair. If a landlord fails to perform certain necessary repairs such as non-working heating equipment, electrical safety problems or leaky roofs or basements, you have certain legal rights including:

• The right to withhold rent until the repairs are made, and
• The right to repair and deduct, meaning the right to hire a professional contractor to make the necessary repairs.

Withholding rent due to repairs you feel are necessary without fully researching and following the Sate law will probably result in an eviction. The website listed below will help guild you through this process including the following:

• The type of property repair and living condition problems which would qualify you for withholding rent or a repair and deduct strategy.
• The type of notice and timelines to be given to your landlord.
• The maximum amount of rent to be withheld or deducted.
• The level of protection you have from landlord retaliation (eviction)
• All other conditions that apply towards a withhold or deduct strategy including setting up an escrow account.

Michigan guild to tenant rights: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/tenantlandlord.pdf