Download Michigan Eviction Notice Templates [PDF]

The Michigan eviction notice is a letter used by the landlord to inform the tenant that they must vacate the leased property.

The eviction notice includes:

If the tenant doesn’t act according to the instructions in the eviction notice, the landlord can file an eviction lawsuit and initiate the procedure before the court. 

Types of Eviction Notices in Michigan

The type of eviction notice the landlord should use mostly depends on the type of lease and the type of violation. In the section below, you can see the most commonly used types of Michigan eviction notices.

Notice to Pay Rent

If the tenant fails to pay the rent before the due date, the landlord can issue an eviction notice, giving the tenant 7 days to vacate the property. The landlord is not obliged to give the tenant an option to pay the due rent and stop the eviction.

Notice for Non-compliance

The landlord can evict the tenant in Michigan for violating the Michigan landlord-tenant law or the lease agreement. The landlord must send the tenant a 30-day advance notice to the tenant, informing them about the eviction. They are not obliged to give the tenant a chance to fix the issue and stop the eviction.

Notice for Illegal Activity

If the tenant causes physical injury to others at the leased unit, the landlord can evict them after giving them a 7-day advance notice.

In case the tenant is involved in illegal drug activity, the landlord can evict them after giving them 24 hours advance notice. The tenant will not have a chance to fix the violation and stop the lease.

Notice to Terminate a Month-to-Month Lease

The tenant that resides at the property without a set lease term (week-to-week or month-to-month lease) can be evicted without a specific reason for the eviction. However, before the eviction, the landlord must notify the tenant and give them at least one month to leave the property in the case of a month-to-month lease.

Eviction Laws and Requirements in Michigan

When Is Rent Late in Michigan?

In Michigan, the rent is considered late immediately after the due date is over. That means that if the rent is due on the 15th of the month, it will be late starting on the 16th of the month.

The Michigan statute doesn’t provide any grace period for the rent payment or the delay of the payment for weekends or state or national holidays. Once the rent is late, the landlord can send an eviction notice to the tenant.

Grounds for Eviction in Michigan

The landlord can start the eviction process in Michigan for the following reasons:

Eviction Process in Michigan

The eviction process in Michigan depends on the type of lease, the reason for the eviction, and the actions the tenant takes in the eviction process.

#1. Write a Notice

The eviction starts when the landlord issues the eviction notice, informs the tenant about the reasons for the eviction, and gives them a deadline to leave the property. The landlord can serve the notice on the tenant by giving it to the tenant personally, putting it in a conspicuous place at the leased property, or via certified mail.

#2. File the Complaint

If the tenant doesn’t leave the property by the deadline provided in the eviction notice, the landlord can file a complaint and summons with the local court and initiate the eviction lawsuit. The lawsuit should be initiated in the district court according to the location of the property. 

When filing the eviction lawsuit, the landlord should also provide a copy of the eviction notice and pay a filing fee.

#3. Serve the Tenant

A body authorized by the court will serve the complaint and summons on the tenant, informing them about the eviction process and the date of the court hearing. The tenant may submit the answer form to the court, providing their arguments against the landlord’s claims.

#4. Wait for the Court’s Judgment

If the tenant doesn’t appear for the court hearing, the court will issue a default judgment in the landlord's favor. Otherwise, the court will hold the hearing and make a final judgment after both parties present their arguments. If the court makes a judgment in the landlord's favor, it will issue a Writ of Restitution.

#5. The Court Issues a Writ of Restitution

This document serves as a final warning to the tenant to leave the leased property. Additionally, it gives the authority to the sheriff to forcefully remove the tenant from the property. This document can be issued from a few hours until 10 days after the court’s judgment.

Other Eviction-Related Forms in Michigan

Eviction Information for Landlords in Michigan

The landlord cannot use illegal methods of evicting the tenant. If found liable, the landlord will be required to compensate the tenant $200, or up to three times the actual damages, whichever is greater.

Any of the following actions are considered illegal according to Michigan landlord-tenant law:

Eviction Information for Tenants in Michigan

When receiving the eviction notice, the tenant should make sure the notice contains the following:

If the eviction notice doesn’t contain the following elements or the landlord’s claims are in some other way incorrect, the tenant can address the court in the eviction process and fight the eviction.

How to Write an Eviction Notice in Michigan

Michigan Eviction Notice FAQ