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Michigan, also called “The Great Lakes State,” is one of the most affordable places to live in the United States. As of 2025, the average monthly rent is $1,380. This is about 34 percent lower than the national average. But this low cost can change at any time.
If you plan to move to Michigan, ask yourself, “How much can a landlord raise rent in Michigan?” Also, check if the state has rent control or any limit on rent increases.
You do not need to search anywhere else. We have all the answers for you. This guide explains how much a landlord can raise rent in Michigan and other important facts that every tenant should know.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Michigan?
A landlord can freely raise rent in Michigan, meaning there’s no law that governs the average rent increase in Michigan. The state passed a statewide law to ban rent control in 1988.
While the House Bill 4009 was put to the floor in 2024 (and many times before as well) to lift the ban, it didn’t happen. Even Ann Arbor’s State Representative Carrie Rheingans, who introduced the bill in September 2023, also says, “That bill never got a hearing, it never got a chance to even get a vote in any way, shape, or form.”
Is There a Limit on Rent Increase in Michigan?
There’s no limit on rent increase in Michigan, which means landlords can raise rent by any amount they consider appropriate. Why is rent so high in Michigan—no rent cap in the state is the answer to it!
Which city in Michigan has the cheapest rent? According to the 2025 rankings, Flint has the cheapest rent of ~$650/month for 1BR apartments, followed by Saginaw (~$8750/month), Albion (~$910/month), Lansing (~$920/month), and Muskegon (~$950/month).
How Often Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Michigan?
How often can a landlord raise rent in Michigan? A landlord can raise rent as often as they want if they follow the government guidelines, including notice requirements for rent increases. If you want to know, “Can my landlord raise my rent in the middle of my lease?” No, a landlord is prohibited to increase rent in the middle of a lease, unless the agreement explicitly says so.
Rent Increase Notice in Michigan by Government
How much notice does a landlord have to give to raise rent in Michigan? Renters in the state must be provided with at least 30 days’ written notice from the date the new rent will come into effect; however, the notice period can also vary based on the percentage by which the rent will actually go up. That’s why many landlords often provide up to 90 days’ notice for rent increases by more than 5-10%, although no official law imposes it.
The above rules also apply to “tenancy at will” or tenants with no lease. Even tenants on a week-to-week lease are entitled to a 30-day notice.
Can a Landlord Raise Rent More Than 10% in Michigan?
Yes, a landlord can raise rent by more than 10% in Michigan. This is because the state has no restrictions on how much a landlord can raise rent in Michigan. So, if you ever wonder, “Can my landlord raise my rent $300 dollars?” yes, they can do it.
What Are the New Rental Laws in Michigan 2025?
In this section, we’ll take a look at the new rental laws in Michigan, covering evictions, security deposits, and repair and deduct, among others.
Eviction Law
Landlords can’t evict tenants without going to court and getting an eviction order first, which can only be obtained if they have a solid reason for eviction. This includes rent non-payment, staying with an expired lease, violation of lease terms, or involvement in drug-related activities. A formal eviction notice, either a Notice to Quit or Notice to Demand for Possession, is required in most cases.
- Notice to Quit: This notice is required for serious lease violation(s) or lease expiry.
- Notice to Demand for Possession: This notice is required for rent non-payment, causing damage or posing a health hazard to the property, or unlawful drug activity.
A landlord can directly hand over an eviction notice to the tenant, or send it by mail, e-mail, or leave it at home with a family member who’s at least 18-year-old. You can get more details here.
Security Deposit Law
According to MCL 554.602, a security deposit can’t exceed 1.5 times the monthly rent. So, if the monthly rent is $500, the maximum amount the landlord may collect as a security deposit is $750. Landlords shall deposit the money with a regulated
financial institution, or deposit a cash bond or surety bond with the Secretary of State, in accordance with the Section 554.604. Plus, the amount shall be returned to the tenant within 30 days of the landlord receiving the tenant’s forwarding address.
Repair and Deduct Law
In Michigan, tenants are entitled to the “repair and deduct” remedy. That is, they can hire a qualified contractor to fix a serious repair that makes a unit unfit and deduct the cost from the following month’s rent. Alternatively, the other option is to put the rent in a separate escrow account with only the rent amount in it.
Notice for Rent Increase Law
Landlords can’t raise rent in Michigan without providing adequate notice, usually in writing, to renters. It should be served at least 30-60 days in advance without fail. Otherwise, the new rent will be considered invalid under the law, and tenants can continue to live in the unit at the old rent.
Quiet Enjoyment Law
The Michigan Quiet Enjoyment Law gives every tenant the right to “quiet enjoyment” in their home, meaning a landlord can’t enter the property without permission except in an emergency, such as a serious gas leakage or flooding. For non-emergency situations, be it repairs or showing the property to new tenants, the existing tenant must be given at least one day’s notice before visiting the property.
Anti-Discrimination Law
The Fair Housing Act and Michigan Elliott-
Larsen Civil Rights Act (MCL 37.2101 to 37.2804) prohibits discrimination against tenants by landlords and real estate companies because of:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- National origin
- Income source
- Immigration status
- Familial status (presence of children under the age of 18 or pregnancy)
- Disability
- Disability Group Homes
To register a complaint of unlawful housing
discrimination, tenants may contact their local Fair Housing Center, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Also Read: Michigan Landlord-Tenant Law Handbook.
How to Manage Your Rental Property and Rent Collection?
Using specialized software for property management and rent collection makes things much easier and faster for property managers, landlords, and tenants. As one property manager shared on Reddit, “I’m a full time property manager with my own rentals. I tried doing my own properties manually and completely messed it all up. Tracking income and expenses is time consuming without software. Maintenance tracking is also huge. Long term record keeping and document management are other needs to have aspects that software will give you.”
Another Reddit user shared their experience with PMS: “Property management software saves so much time by automating tasks like rent collection and maintenance requests, plus it helps cut errors with better tracking and reports.”
In short, using software saves time, reduces stress, and keeps both landlords and tenants happy. It doesn’t matter if you manage one unit, fifty, or more, it brings control and peace of mind to your property business.
How RentPost Helps Manage Your Rental Property and Rent Collection?
RentPost helps manage your rental property and rent collection. One user also says, “It’s streamlined for landlords who want easy rent collection, task management, and QuickBooks integration. Works well for scaling without getting too complicated.”
If you’re new to RentPost, here’s an overview of what this cloud-based property management tool can do:
- Real-Time Payment Tracking: With RentPost, easily track rent payments and outstanding balances in real-time with the status of each payment just a click away.
- Tenant Screening: Rent out your property to only trustworthy tenants after end-to-end screening that includes thorough background checks, credit checks, eviction history, identity verification, and more.
- Scalability: Add new units and tenants as your rental portfolio grows, and scale your business with minimal effort.
- Automated Payment Reminders: Automated payment reminders mean no more late rent payments. The PMS automatically calculates and applies late fees based on the schedules you define, so you never have to chase payments again.
- Work Order Management: Save time and money by streamlining work orders with RentPost. Accept maintenance requests from tenants, assign them to the respective maintenance personnel or managers, and the tool will take care of the rest.
- Financial Report Generation: Get valuable insights into your apartment’s finances through income and expense reports. Identify the right time to adjust rent prices based on your property’s performance.
Explore rent laws in other regions of the US:
- How much can you raise rent in California?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in New Jersey?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent In Florida?
- How much can you raise rent in NYC?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Oregon?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Los Angeles?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in San Diego?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Pennsylvania?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Massachusetts?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Chicago?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Illinois?
- Rent increase laws in Maryland
Raise Rent in Michigan: FAQs
Q: Is There a Limit to How Much Rent Can be Increased in Michigan?
A: Michigan doesn’t have a state-wide rent control law, so legally, there’s no limit on how much rent can be increased. So if you’re wondering, what is the highest a landlord can raise rent in Michigan, there really isn’t a cap, as long as it’s not during a lease term and the landlord gives proper notice. Tenants should always check the lease and local city rules just in case.
Q: Can a Landlord Raise the Rent Without Giving Notice in Michigan?
A: No, landlords can’t raise the rent without giving notice. In Michigan, they must give at least 30 days’ notice before the rent increase takes effect, if a tenant is on a month-to-month lease. For longer leases, they can only raise it once the lease ends.
Q: Do Rent Increase Laws Apply to All Types of Properties in Michigan?
A: In Michigan, rent increase rules mostly apply to residential properties like apartments and rental homes. Commercial properties, like stores or offices, follow different rules based on the lease. Also, public housing or subsidized housing may have stricter rules. Tenants shall check what kind of property they live in, as that affects what a landlord can and can’t do with rent.
Q: Are There Exceptions to the Rent Cap in Michigan?
A: Since Michigan doesn’t have a rent cap, there’s really nothing to be “excepted.” But some cities might have their own local rules or protections, especially for low-income or senior housing. Also, landlords can’t raise rent in ways that seem like discrimination or retaliation.
Q: Can Rent be Increased During a Fixed-Term Lease in Michigan?
A: No, rent can’t be increased in the middle of a fixed-term lease unless the lease itself says so. If both parties sign a lease for one year, the rent stays the same during that year. After the lease ends, the landlord can raise it, but again, they must give a proper notice before doing so.
Q: What Are Tenants’ Rights if They Can’t Afford a Rent Increase in Michigan?
A: If tenants can’t afford the rent increase in Michigan, they have the right to talk with the landlord and try to negotiate. They can also look for rental help programs or non-profit organizations that support tenants in tough spots. What a landlord cannot do in Michigan is force tenants out right away; they still need to follow legal steps.
Q: What Happens if a Landlord Increases Rent Without Following the Law in Michigan?
A: If a landlord raises rent without proper notice or breaks the lease terms, tenants can file a complaint or take legal action. They should keep all records, like the lease and any messages or letters. Courts in Michigan usually support tenants if the landlord didn’t follow the rules.
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