11-06-2025
Michigan Senate Committee clears renters rights bills
Michigan Capitol | Susan J. Demas
Bills mandating 48-hour response times for landlords to address hazardous conditions in rental properties and requirements for 90-day notice for rent increases were voted through a Michigan legislative committee Tuesday.
Lawmakers on the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee heard testimony earlier this month from tenants, advocacy groups and property owner stakeholders on the Tenant Empowerment Package, which aims to empower those residing in the state's more than one million renter-occupied units.
Property owners would be required to respond within 48 hours to notice from renters that there is a need for safety-related repairs under Senate Bills 19 and 20. If the property owner doesn't respond to being notified of the defective condition on the rental property premises, the renter could withhold rent or get the repair started themselves and deduct the cost of the repair from their rent.
When it comes towards the end of a person's lease, if a landlord plans on increasing the rent, that landlord would have to provide current leasees a 90-day notice of the increase under Senate Bill 21.
Senate Bills 19 through 20 passed a committee vote along party lines without support from Republican members Tuesday.
Senate Bill 22, which would permit landlords to return security deposits electronically, passed through the committee unanimously.
All four bills will now move to the Senate floor for a vote by the chamber.
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