If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Repair-request & landlord/tenant forms (LawDepot)Templates for a notice to repair, security-deposit demand, and more.
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Default rule and exceptions
Michigan landlords may use a security deposit only to reimburse actual damage resulting from conduct not reasonably expected in normal habitation (not ordinary wear and tear) or unpaid rent/utilities, and must mail an itemized list of any damage claim within 30 days after the tenant moves out (MCL §§554.607, 554.609).
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Landlord | Use the deposit only for damage from conduct not reasonably expected in normal habitation, or unpaid rent/utilities, and mail an itemized list within 30 days of move-out. |
| Tenant | Is not liable for damage that results from conduct reasonably expected in the normal course of habitation (ordinary wear and tear). |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 19, 2026.
Reimburse the landlord for actual damages to the rental unit or any ancillary facility that are the direct result of conduct not reasonably expected in the normal course of habitation of a dwelling.
In case of damage to the rental unit or other obligation against the security deposit, the landlord shall mail to the tenant, within 30 days after the termination of occupancy, a notice of damages that contains an itemized list of damages claimed for which the security deposit may be used.
City rules rest on state law. Read Michigan's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for security deposit: damage vs wear in Statewide, MI?
Responsibility is shared. Use the deposit only for damage from conduct not reasonably expected in normal habitation, or unpaid rent/utilities, and mail an itemized list within 30 days of move-out.
What is this based on for Statewide, MI?
This verdict is sourced to MCL §554.607(a) (deposit limited to damage beyond normal-habitation conduct) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- MCL §554.607(a) (deposit limited to damage beyond normal-habitation conduct)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
- MCL §554.609 (30-day itemized-list mailing deadline)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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