Mich. Comp. Laws § § 554.603
Security deposit; notice.
Operative Text
Sec. 3. A landlord shall not require a security deposit unless he notifies the tenant no later than 14 days from the date a tenant assumes possession in a written instrument of the landlord's name and address for receipt of communications under this act, the name and address of the financial institution or surety required by section 4 and the tenant's obligation to provide in writing a forwarding mailing address to the landlord within 4 days after termination of occupancy. The notice shall include the following statement in 12 point boldface type which is at least 4 points larger than the body of the notice or lease agreement: "You must notify your landlord in writing within 4 days after you move of a forwarding address where you can be reached and where you will receive mail; otherwise your landlord shall be relieved of sending you an itemized list of damages and the penalties adherent to that failure." Failure to provide the information relieves the tenant of his obligation relative to notification of the landlord of his forwarding mailing address.
Under MCL § 554.603, a landlord who collects a security deposit must provide the tenant with a written notice within 14 days of the tenant taking possession. That notice must include the landlord's contact information, the name and address of the financial institution or surety holding the deposit, and a clear statement—in 12-point boldface type—informing the tenant of the obligation to supply a forwarding mailing address within 4 days of moving out. If the landlord fails to deliver this required notice, the tenant is relieved of the duty to provide that forwarding address.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to MCL § 554.603 generally deliver a written security deposit notice to new tenants no later than 14 days after the tenant takes possession of the unit. A compliant notice includes the landlord's name and address, the name and address of the financial institution or surety holding the deposit, and the boldface forwarding-address statement in at least 12-point type that is at least 4 points larger than the surrounding text. Landlords who skip or delay this notice risk losing the procedural protections—such as the tenant's obligation to provide a forwarding address—that are tied to the security deposit return process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 554.603 gives tenants the right to receive a written security deposit notice within 14 days of moving in, including a prominently formatted statement about the 4-day forwarding-address requirement after move-out. If a landlord never provided that compliant written notice, the tenant's obligation to supply a forwarding address may be waived under the statute. Tenants who believe this notice was not properly delivered can document the gap, review the full MCL § 554.601 et seq. framework, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand what options may be available.
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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