You can get important information about Michigan’s rent control rules whether you are a landlord or a renter. If you are a landlord, knowing the rules will help you figure out how much you can raise rent without breaking the law.
However, renters can get more out of their leases if they know their rights and how landlords can raise rent. That way, renters will be able to plan for rent increases and will not be caught off guard by sudden rent increases.
We will talk about rent control in Michigan in today’s piece. The goal of this article is to help you understand Michigan’s rent control rules better, no matter if you are a landlord or a renter.
Key Takeaways
In Michigan, rent control is against the law. Any amount of rent increases are allowed by the landlord, as long as they follow the rental agreement or give at least 30 days’ notice to tenants who have lived in the property for less than a year.
For renters who have lived in the property for more than a year, 60 days’ notice is needed.
Landlords can stay in line with Michigan’s rent control rules and set prices based on a number of factors, such as the current market.
Tenants who know about these laws can also prepare for possible rent increases, make smart financial choices, and use their rights if they think their rent was raised unfairly, without proper notice, or as a form of retaliation or discrimination.
TurboTenant is a reliable piece of rental management software that makes it easier for both tenants and owners to pay and collect rent. Being able to collect and pay rent from anywhere takes away the bother of having to do it in person.
Autopay also makes sure that owners get paid on time, and renters do not have to pay late fees, which can be expensive.
Michigan Rent Control Laws: An Overview
As a result of Public Act 226 of 1988, the Michigan Legislature does not allow rent control. This means that rent rises are not limited. The only rule in the state that controls rent is the ban.
If a tenant has been in the unit for less than a year and the rent is going up, the landlord must give at least 30 days’ notice.
There must be 60 days’ notice if the tenant has lived in the home for more than a year.
If there is a rental deal, it spells out how much notice is needed, how much the rent will go up, and sometimes how often it will go up. That is, landlords can raise rents whenever they want, but they have to stick to the agreement as long as it is in effect.
If the landlord does not include rent rises in the agreement at the start of the relationship, they will not be allowed.
When an agreement is in place, the Michigan lease takes precedence over the law. This means that owners can raise rent at the rate specified in the lease.
Lenders and renters in Michigan need to know the landlord-tenant laws and make sure they update their leases on time because the rules are not always clear.
Rent Increase Limitations in Michigan
In Michigan, how much can a landlord charge more for rent? When you start, look at the rental deal.
Then look at the law in your state. Michigan law says that rent can go up by any amount, as long as it is not done to punish a renter for doing something they are legally allowed to do, like joining a union, or because of bias.
As we already said, landlords can not raise rent if it is against the terms of the rental deal. For instance, if the rental deal says that the rent will be $2,000 for the next twelve months, you can not raise it until the lease is up.
Then you should let the tenant know about the price rise and give them the choice of signing a new lease or going with a month-to-month plan.
You can raise the rent by any amount after the lease is up, as long as you let the tenant know ahead of time.
Tenant Considerations
The average rent went up by 12.47 percent in Michigan between January 2023 and January 2024. This is one of the highest rates in the U.S.
A raise of that much could change the lives of many people. That is where House Bill 4947 of 2023 from the Michigan Legislature comes in.
The bill wants to put rent control in place in Michigan so that renters can find more affordable housing. It would also let cities set their own price caps and give tenants more protections.
But until the bill is passed, which might not happen at all, Michigan does not have rent control or laws that limit rent increases. The only law that does apply is that tenants must be given notice before any rent increases that are not in their lease deal.
Just Cause for Eviction in Michigan
Michigan does not have rent control, so renters may sometimes have trouble paying their rent, which could lead to evictions. But it is important to remember that in Michigan, there has to be “just cause” to kick someone out.
That means the renter is behind on payments, pays late three times in a year, or something similar.
Remember that tenants can be kicked out, but they also have the right to safe and fair housing. This means that they can fight the eviction if the owner has not followed the health and safety rules.
Renters can also avoid being evicted if the eviction seems to be based on discrimination or revenge.
Landlord Rights and Responsibilities
In Michigan, as an owner, you can raise rent by any amount as long as you follow the terms of the lease.
When it comes to Michigan’s rent control, the lease will tell you how much notice you need to give. You can raise the rent, but you need to make sure you follow the rules in the rental deal and give enough notice.
You have to give 30 or 60 days’ notice if the lease does not say otherwise. It depends on how long the tenant has lived in the house.
It is the landlord’s job to explain to the renters why the rent is going up and give them notice of when the new rate will start.
There is an official process that landlords must follow before they can kick out a tenant who can not pay rent.
Tenant Rights and Responsibilities
Tenants can end their lease as long as they follow the rules in their rental deal.
Tenants must tell owners about any problems with the house that make it unlivable so that the problems can be fixed.
As long as they give the number of days’ notice required by the rental agreement, tenants can leave if they can not pay the higher rent.
Tenants in Michigan need to know the landlord-tenant rules and be able to speak out without fear of being punished if they think their rights have been violated.
Tenants have the right not to be treated badly because of their gender, race, or anything else.
Navigating Rent Control Laws with TurboTenant
Sometimes it is hard to figure out how rental control works in Michigan. Luckily, TurboTenant has seen it all, and we know all about the different rent increase rules in Michigan, such as the need to give notice and follow the terms of the rental agreement, among other things.
If you are in Michigan and need a dependable company that sells property management software, we can help. We market your property, screen potential renters, check their credit, give them Michigan rental application templates, and do a lot more.
Our rent collection software also makes it easy to keep track of rent payments by sending you automatic messages and late fees to keep everything running smoothly.
