Lake Forest, IL asked in Civil Litigation, Contracts, Land Use & Zoning and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan

Q: If a home is rented, w/o a rental license, is the lease valid (Wayne County, MI). Is there punitive recourse?

If a home is rented on a boiler plate/printed off internet lease, and tenants have reported SERIOUS repairs and issues, through out 2 years of renting said home (flooding basement - floods 1/3 damages personal effects we cant use), Asbestos tiles popping up and breaking, mold, mildew, leaking ceiling, defective paint (meaning paint is flaked from ceiling and moisture is trapped creating mildew/mold), and landlord has done NOTHING to repair, but a 50.00 craigslist handman (unlicensed) to patch a shingle on the roof, but nothing for the other damages, but keep asking us to get estimates, and not take any action in 2 years, can we vacate? Last estimate the Licensed contractor/Builder found large crack basement wall, and told us it is 30k to fix, and suspects 2nd crack. Said there is mold, not black mold yet, but mildew, and the tiles are a serous threat breaking. Are we entitled to any of the money we paid for rent back, as this is not licensed, never inspected, unsafe/unfit, health issue

1 Lawyer Answer
David Soble
PREMIUM
David Soble
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • Farmington Hills, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: If a municipality requires the licensing of rental properties, and the owner has not secured the license, then it is very likely that they could mark the property as 'not habitable" until the home has been inspected. Tenants should not be at the property however, some cities will work with both owner and tenant to make any repairs cited in the inspection while the tenant is in the home.

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