Michigan Lease Agreement: What to Include
January 23, 2026Michigan's landlord-tenant rules include a distinctive required disclosure — the Truth in Renting Act notice — that doesn't have a direct equivalent in every state, along with a standard deposit cap and inventory checklist requirement.
Security deposits
Michigan caps the security deposit at one and a half months' rent. No interest is required on the deposit. Deposits must be returned within 30 days of move-out, with an itemized statement of any deductions.
The Truth in Renting Act notice
Michigan's Truth in Renting Act requires landlords to provide tenants with a specific notice about their rights — including that certain lease clauses attempting to waive statutory tenant rights are unenforceable regardless of what the lease says. This notice is a distinctive Michigan requirement worth confirming your lease includes.
Inventory checklist requirement
Michigan law contemplates providing tenants with an inventory checklist for documenting the unit's condition at move-in, which the tenant can complete and return — similar in spirit to a move-in condition report used elsewhere, but tied more specifically to Michigan's statutory framework for deposit disputes.
Required disclosures
A Michigan lease should include or accompany:
- • Federal lead-based paint disclosure (for pre-1978 buildings)
- • Inventory checklist for move-in condition documentation
- • Truth in Renting Act notice
The bottom line
The Truth in Renting Act notice and inventory checklist are the two Michigan-specific requirements a generic lease template is most likely to miss entirely. See LeasePilot HQ's full Michigan landlord-tenant law summary for the complete breakdown with sources, or generate a lease with Michigan-specific clauses built in automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include a lease clause waiving a tenant's statutory rights in Michigan?
Generally no — the Truth in Renting Act specifically addresses that certain clauses attempting to waive tenant rights granted by law are unenforceable, regardless of what the lease document says.
Is the inventory checklist the same as a move-in condition report?
They serve a similar purpose — documenting the unit's condition at move-in — but Michigan's inventory checklist is tied to specific statutory language, so review the current requirement rather than assuming any generic move-in form automatically satisfies it.
Do I owe interest on a Michigan security deposit?
No — Michigan does not have a statewide requirement to pay interest on security deposits.