Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.525
Registry of owners and premises; transfer of ownership.
Operative Text
Sec. 125. (1) The enforcing agency may maintain a registry of owners and premises regulated by this act. (2) If the enforcing agency maintains a registry of owners and premises, the owner of a multiple dwelling or rooming house containing units that will be offered to let, or to hire, for more than 6 months of a calendar year shall register with the enforcing agency the owner's name, the address of the owner's residence or usual place of business, and the location of the multiple dwelling or rooming house. The owner shall register within 60 days following the day on which any part of the premises is offered for occupancy. (3) If the premises are managed or operated by an agent, the agent's name and place of business must be entered with the name of the owner in the registry under subsection (2). (4) A transfer of ownership to another person is not a change of ownership for purposes of this act if the owner, owners, trustors, grantors, or members of the transferring person are the same as the owner, owners, trustees, grantees, or members of the recipient person, or both the transferring person and recipient person are under common control, and the property being transferred was inspected in accordance with this act during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of that transfer or a longer period if previously determined by a local municipality inspection ordinance. As used in this subsection, "person" means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability limited partnership, trust, individual retirement account, or other legal person recognized in this state.
MCL § 125.525 establishes a framework under which a local enforcing agency may create and maintain a registry of rental property owners and their premises. When such a registry exists, owners of multi-unit dwellings or rooming houses rented out for more than six months of a calendar year must register their name, contact address, and property location within 60 days of first offering any unit for occupancy. The provision also clarifies that certain internal transfers of ownership — where the underlying ownership or control remains essentially the same and a qualifying inspection has occurred within the past two years — do not trigger a new 'change of ownership' under the act.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 125.525, property owners operating multiple dwellings or rooming houses should determine whether their local enforcing agency maintains an owner-and-premises registry. If one exists, compliant operators register their name, residence or business address, and property location within 60 days of first offering any unit for occupancy, and ensure that any managing agent's name and place of business is also entered in the registry. Owners contemplating internal restructuring or entity transfers should be aware that the provision's 'no change of ownership' treatment depends on consistent underlying ownership or common control and a qualifying inspection within the preceding two-year period.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.525 gives tenants a basis for understanding who is legally responsible for a rental property, since the enforcing agency's registry — when maintained — records the owner's identity and contact information alongside any managing agent. Tenants who have difficulty identifying a property's owner or agent may inquire with the local enforcing agency to determine whether a registry exists and whether the property is listed. Those who believe a landlord has failed to comply with registration requirements can raise that concern with the local enforcing agency or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Michigan housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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