🏠 MICHIGAN · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Michigan
In Michigan, Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The deposit itself is capped at 1.5 months' rent. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: double the amount of the security deposit retained.
The Michigan statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.609 & 554.613
Landlord must mail an itemized list of damages within 30 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.609) and, to retain disputed amounts, must sue within 45 days or return the balance (MCL 554.613). Failure exposes the landlord to double damages. Deposit capped at 1.5x monthly rent (MCL 554.602); tenant must give a forwarding address within 4 days to preserve remedies. Verified against primary statute text (legislature.mi.gov) 2026-06-28.
Read the Michigan source text →Michigan deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Michigan requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 1.5 months' rent |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | Double the amount of the security deposit retained |
| Governing statute | Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613 |
Itemized list of damages due within 30 days of termination of occupancy (554.609). The landlord must sue within 45 days or return the balance; failure to comply fully waives all claimed damages and creates double liability (554.613(2)). Every figure here was read from the Michigan statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Michigan
The 30 days clock in MichiganMich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613 sets Michigan's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy. Itemized list of damages due within 30 days of termination of occupancy (554.609). The landlord must sue within 45 days or return the balance; failure to comply fully waives all claimed damages and creates double liability (554.613(2)).
Michigan caps the deposit at 1.5 months' rentA Michigan landlord may not demand more than 1.5 months' rent as a security deposit under Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613. A deposit collected above the cap is recoverable even if you agreed to it in the lease.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Michigan requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in MichiganDouble the amount of the security deposit retained — that is the remedy Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Michigan, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Michigan the 30 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Michigan small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (double the amount of the security deposit retained) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Michigan
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Michigan?
Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. Itemized list of damages due within 30 days of termination of occupancy (554.609). The landlord must sue within 45 days or return the balance; failure to comply fully waives all claimed damages and creates double liability (554.613(2)).
What happens if my Michigan landlord misses the deadline?
Double the amount of the security deposit retained. That remedy is written into Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613 — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Michigan?
Michigan caps it at 1.5 months' rent under Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609, 554.613. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Michigan landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 30 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.