LANDLORD GUIDE ยท MICHIGAN
Reviewed November 13, 2026
For an existing private residential tenancy. Fixed-term changes, assisted housing, mobile-home spaces and required local forms need a separate review. This guide explains selected rules; it is not a coverage determination or legal advice for a particular property.
Written consent is central to a mid-agreement change
Michigan's Truth in Renting Act, MCL 554.633(1)(l), generally prohibits a clause allowing the landlord to alter an agreement after it starts without the tenant's written consent. It permits an agreement to provide certain specified adjustments on at least 30 days' written notice, including legally required changes and specified tax, utility and insurance cost increases.
Those exceptions are not a general right to increase rent whenever operating costs rise. Check that the agreement contains the applicable provision and that the actual expense fits it. The monthly planner is not intended to perform this midterm exception analysis.
[2] MCL 554.633 - consent, permitted adjustments and payment fees
Distinguish a later monthly term from the current bargain
For a continuing monthly tenancy, review the lease's notice and renewal structure and document agreement to the new rent where required. The tool uses a full rental cycle and at least 30 days as a planning floor. It does not imply that all Michigan rent changes are valid with a unilateral 30-day letter.
For a claimed cost adjustment, save the old and new invoices, the covered cost categories and the allocation calculation. A general market-rent increase is not the same as a contractual pass-through of qualifying costs.
[2] MCL 554.633 - consent, permitted adjustments and payment fees
Payment methods are part of the review
The current MCL 554.633 also prohibits imposing an additional charge on every allowed payment method; the lease must allow at least one way to pay without an additional fee. Do not make the new rent look lower by forcing every tenant to pay an unavoidable processing fee. Keep the permitted fee-free method clear in the payment instructions.
[2] MCL 554.633 - consent, permitted adjustments and payment fees
Example: a bill increase is not an automatic rent increase
An owner receives a higher insurance bill and wants to add $50 per month. Before sending the notice, inspect the lease's adjustment clause and the statutory categories. If the agreement does not authorize the proposed adjustment, the existence of a bill alone does not replace written consent. For a properly agreed $1,000-to-$1,050 change, state the $50 difference, the 5% calculation and the first affected payment.
[2] MCL 554.633 - consent, permitted adjustments and payment fees
Document the final terms
Keep the agreement, any valid adjustment clause, supporting costs, the notice, delivery proof and written consent together. Do not treat a tenant's signature acknowledging receipt as an amendment unless the document clearly says what is being agreed. Resolve a disputed change before converting its proposed difference into rent arrears.
[2] MCL 554.633 - consent, permitted adjustments and payment fees
Official sources and updates
Dated caps apply only to the periods stated. Check the official sources before preparing a later increase.