Mich. Comp. Laws § § 554.601a
Termination of lease; conditions; applicability of section to leases entered into, renewed, or renegotiated after effective date.
Operative Text
Sec. 1a. (1) A rental agreement shall provide that a tenant who has occupied a rental unit for more than 13 months may terminate a lease by a 60-day written notice to the landlord if 1 of the following occurs: (a) The tenant becomes eligible during the lease term to take possession of a subsidized rental unit in senior citizen housing and provides the landlord with written proof of that eligibility. (b) The tenant becomes incapable during the lease term of living independently, as certified by a physician in a notarized statement. (2) This section applies only to leases entered into, renewed, or renegotiated after the effective date of this section, in accordance with the constitutional prohibition against impairment of contracts provided by section 10 of article I of the state constitution of 1963.
Under MCL § 554.601a, Michigan rental agreements must include a provision allowing tenants who have lived in a unit for more than 13 months to end their lease early by giving 60 days' written notice under two specific circumstances: qualifying for a subsidized senior housing unit (with written proof of eligibility) or becoming unable to live independently as certified by a physician in a notarized statement. This early-termination right applies only to leases entered into, renewed, or renegotiated after the section's effective date, consistent with Michigan's constitutional protections against contract impairment. The provision effectively limits a landlord's ability to hold such tenants to the full lease term when these qualifying life events occur.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Landlords and property managers operating under MCL § 554.601a should ensure that any lease entered into, renewed, or renegotiated after the section's effective date contains language reflecting this early-termination right for qualifying long-term tenants. A compliant operator generally establishes a clear process for receiving and documenting the required written proof — either the senior housing eligibility documentation or the physician's notarized statement — and processes 60-day notice periods accordingly. Reviewing lease templates with a qualified real estate attorney to confirm they incorporate this provision is a common practice among operators managing Michigan residential properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 554.601a gives tenants who have occupied their rental unit for more than 13 months a right to terminate their lease early by providing 60 days' written notice if they qualify for subsidized senior housing or if a physician certifies in a notarized statement that they can no longer live independently. This right applies only if the lease was entered into, renewed, or renegotiated after the section's effective date, so tenants may want to confirm when their current lease agreement originated. Tenants who believe a landlord is not honoring this provision may consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, a Michigan legal aid office, or consulting an attorney to understand the options available under this section.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation