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Michigan Landlord - Tenant Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: Can my landlord legally cut my (outside) Internet cable?

I pay for my own Internet. Cable and jack were present when I moved in. Landlord is forcing residents to use landlord-chosen ISP. New service will quadruple my bill. I asked landlord HOW my Internet service would be “discontinued” - and I was told that the cable will be cut outside my... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 20, 2021

I believe your landlord can do so. You may be in what's called a "multi-dwelling unit", and ISPs and cable companies can compete for exclusive service to those. Once service is secured, they become the exclusive provider of services to that dwelling.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: Landlord where I was renting the basement changed the locks & refused to give me my things. said confiscated for nopay

She has everything including my receipt book for rent payments, lease, all my clothes, TV, Microwave, jewelry, bedding, and misc other things. She wanted rent in cash so I bought a receipt book for receipts. She didn't want to due to trying to keep the income secret. He Son was threatening to... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 7, 2021

You need to contact an attorney in your area quickly. If you cannot afford one, this is a situation your local legal aid office may provide assistance for. This doesn't sound right, and smacks of an illegal eviction.

Q: I live where I work and they just sent me an eviction notice and it say I'm squatting, can get legally evict me?

I pay partial rent and don't have a rental agreement and been living where I work ( maintenance man) for 8 years. They wrongfully fired me but then gave me my job back at the end of the week (I didn't ask for it back) now I have an eviction notice saying I'm squatting and have to... View More

David Soble
PREMIUM
David Soble
answered on Dec 27, 2020

Without a written lease, you have a month to month rental agreement (oral agreement). Therefore, they would have to give you 30 days notice. You should also note that in Michigan there are new measures in place with the district courts related to the residential eviction process that require more... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: Can my landlord show my apartment during this COVID-19 pandemic?

My roommates and I have been in quarantine for over a month and have made it clear to the landlord that we aren’t comfortable with it and that we have been quarantined. She stills says we can’t opt out. Is she right or can we do something about it?

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Dec 15, 2020

It's likely the landlord can do this. However, a simple "don't mind us; we're quarantined due to testing positive" the next time she brings someone by might dissuade her from doing that again.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: My parents have a tenant who is 5 months behind plus has a utility bill, the tenant is moving out, changed the locks on

the rental. what can they do before he leaves. they have been kind to him because of covid

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Dec 2, 2020

Have your parents filed an eviction proceeding? They will need that to enforce any money owed.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: What are the steps to evict a roommate? He doesn't pay rent or utilities.

He needs to be out. An 80 yo women shouldn't have to live in her situation. He has no drivers license, doesn't work and has her drive him around on errands. He is verbally abusive toward her and makes the situation so uncomfortable that she spends the majority of the time in her... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Nov 27, 2020

If this man's presence would be a lease violation, that is something for the landlord to address, but it may also negatively impact the woman. If there is a concern about her mental or emotional well-being, you could contact Adult Protective Services.

Just keep in mind that just...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: Is there a Real Estate Law that prohibits/denies a tenant of an apt building the right to see their financial file

The file in which copies of money orders and checks are kept

David Soble
PREMIUM
David Soble
answered on Nov 16, 2020

It sounds as if you are requesting to see your landlord's payment ledger. There is no 'law' per se, however, if you are challenging how you made your payments or how they were credited, you should have copies of your own payment receipts through cancelled checks or money orders.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Products Liability and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: If my name isn’t on the lease and I move out is there a way to get my personal belongings, when the person wont comply?

Well I was living with a friend and I recently moved out but I was never on the lease, most of my things are there I wanted to get them back but the person is giving me tge run around to get them. Is there any way I could obtain them?

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Nov 12, 2020

Not easily. You might need to file a claim and delivery action in the local district court.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: What if the apartment complex is not registered as a rental in Oxford mi. I just found out.

The stairs to get in and out of the apartment need to be rebuilt. And the landlord disagrees and thinks it only needs to have a few repairs. The stairs are dangerous and I hate to see anything happen to anyone.

David Soble
PREMIUM
David Soble
answered on Oct 29, 2020

This could be a code enforcement issue. I would contact the city housing or ordinance enforcement department with your concerns.

3 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: Our landlord just died, no will. His sister wants no expense of a second home; she thought of transfering mortgage to us

The sister and brother are only heirs, the brother wants nothing. The sister said the landlord talked highly of us, she cannot have the expense of a second mortgage & she would like us to have the home yet needs to figure out the mortgage. She had asked us to keep depositing our monthly... View More

Thomas. R. Morris
Thomas. R. Morris
answered on Oct 20, 2020

A probate case may be necessary in order for the heirs to convey title to the property. If you have the cash or could get financing to pay off the mortgage, the transaction is fairly simple for an attorney to handle.

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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law, Civil Litigation and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: At what point is personal property considered abandoned?

A friend of mine and his wife split up. She left the dwelling they shared and moved in with family. The divorce is in the early stages currently. She left several of her belongings behind and said she'd return but hasn't. My friend is now wanting to move from the home as the lease they... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 30, 2020

Until the divorce is complete, that property is still at issue. Could he box this things up and bring them to her current place?

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Child Custody and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: Can someone use stolen evidence can i sue for defamation of character.

My ex broke into my home in june 2019 in which i pressed charges on her now husband for b and e and larsony. I didnt show up to court and it was dropped to disturbing the peace. now they are using the photos they took against me in a custody battle.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 29, 2020

Family law is civil in nature and not subject to the more stringent criminal law standards. How are the photos relevant? That should be the focus of your fight now.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: Fixed term lease is ending what notices should I send and steps should be taken to avoid eviction process. I'm landlord

I have a fixed term lease ending oct 15 .they pay on the 15th of every month. I sent them text saying to let m know by sept 15 if they want to do another lease. On Sept 1st they still didn't let me know what the plan was so I put house on zillow to vet new tenants. I also sent them a 30 day... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 12, 2020

Sounds like you did all the right things to date. If they remain, you will need to file for summary proceedings.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Products Liability, Environmental and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: I stayed in a hotel for 118 days this year that was shut down by the fire marshal because they didn’t replace a panel

Saying it would just be a couple days all they had to do was replace a panel they forgot to but when the fire marshal returned when the panel was replaced he did a fuller inspection and found the dryer was so full of lint it was actually all the way up in the ceiling going about 40 feet back. This... View More

Trent Harris
Trent Harris
answered on Aug 28, 2020

Dear Davisburg,

Your question references a condition at the property which could've, but in actuality did not adversely affect you. In the eyes of the law, you lack standing to sue, because you have not suffered a particularized injury traceable to the hotel's conduct. Sure, you...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: Tenant owed 5 month rent and 1k water bill

Tenant owed 5 month rent and 1k water bill due to eviction ban and no shutoff utility as Covid19. Township can't get the bill paid but decided to add the water bill to landlord property tax. Is it correct? what I should do except file eviction? Thanks!

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Aug 15, 2020

In most jurisdictions, a water bill is a lien on the land, and so ultimately is the responsibility of the property owner. That is why many landlords elect to keep the water bill in their name and charge the tenant for the water either as part of the rent or additional to it.

You can...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: My park fined us based on another tennants recording but refuse ro show me proof what are my rights

This tennant has previously herassed us. No where in contract states being fined and refuse to show me the video taken of us unknowingly. They are stating we were violating a noise ordinance w our car engine. When they said they had video and i must pay the 50 dollar fine, i asked to see it and... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Aug 13, 2020

I think you're limited to either pay the fine or not and face whatever actions the park can take against you (e.g. eviction). This doesn't sound like a criminal matter, and the park is not a government entity, so your rights are limited.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: Can my landlord evict me because the police have been to the home multiple times?

We just signed the lease in June and now my landlord is trying to evict me because the police have been at the house multiple times.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Aug 7, 2020

Depends on how and why the police are involved. If it's drugs, then yes. Even if there is not cause by law, obviously the landlord will be keeping a eye on you, and so you may want to think about 1) what you can do to not have so much police contact at the home (because that reputation can... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Probate for Michigan on
Q: House left to church. Agreed to help me move then changed locks dumpstered my belongings. Probate open no inventory

Church nor lawyer came to inventory after either patent death. Have text of communication. I am disabled heir who cared for mother never received final month pay either. People who did the dumpstering never saw paperwork. Mentally unstable over this i had things boxed was working with them then no... View More

Trent Harris
Trent Harris
answered on Jul 26, 2020

There are certain requirements a landlord must follow before eviction, including serving the tenant with a notice to quit, and then filing an eviction suit and getting a writ of eviction. It sounds like this process may not have been followed in your case. It would be best for you to consult with a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Small Claims and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: I made an oral lease agreement but want to cancel and have the deposit back.

I made an oral agreement to sublease the defendant's apartment room for 4 months and I paid the first-month rental as a deposit. Twenty hours after I paid the money, I decided not to rent this room and requested my deposit back, however, he refused to give the money back. He said he... View More

Thomas. R. Morris
Thomas. R. Morris
answered on Jul 19, 2020

I don’t like to be the bearer of bad news, but I don’t see a basis for a rescission of the lease, or a claim that the other party breached the agreement, so I would say based upon these facts, that the landlord is in the right. Is there a basis for a claim that the landlord breached the agreement?

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Michigan on
Q: In a breakup, can I ask my bf of 14 years to leave the condo with an expired lease?

I've been with my boyfriend for 14 years an plan on breaking up within the next 4-ish weeks. My preference would be to ask him to move out and keep the condo unit we've been renting since 2008 to myself. I was the only one who signed the lease, but we are both listed as tenents. I am not... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jul 17, 2020

Your boyfriend arguably has tenant rights in to condo. Of course, you can ask him to leave, and he can agree to do so. It would be best to get the agreement and understanding in writing if possible.

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