Mich. Comp. Laws § § 554.608
Inventory checklists.
Operative Text
Sec. 8. (1) The landlord shall make use of inventory checklists both at the commencement and termination of occupancy for each rental unit which detail the condition of the rental unit for which a security deposit is required. (2) At the commencement of the lease, the landlord shall furnish the tenant 2 blank copies of a commencement inventory checklist, which form shall be identical to the form used for the termination inventory checklist. The checklist shall include all items in the rental unit owned by the landlord including, but not limited to, carpeting, draperies, appliances, windows, furniture, walls, closets, shelves, paint, doors, plumbing fixtures and electrical fixtures. (3) Unless the landlord and tenant agree to complete their inventory checklist within a shorter period, the tenant shall review the checklist, note the condition of the property and return 1 copy of the checklist to the landlord within 7 days after receiving possession of the premises. (4) The checklist shall contain the following notice in 12 point boldface type at the top of the first page: "You should complete this checklist, noting the condition of the rental property, and return it to the landlord within 7 days after obtaining possession of the rental unit. You are also entitled to request and receive a copy of the last termination inventory checklist which shows what claims were chargeable to the last prior tenants.". (5) At the termination of the occupancy, the landlord shall complete a termination inventory checklist listing all the damages he claims were caused by the tenant.
Michigan law under MCL § 554.608 requires landlords to use written inventory checklists at both the start and end of a tenancy whenever a security deposit is collected. At move-in, the landlord must provide two blank copies of the checklist—covering items such as carpeting, appliances, walls, and plumbing fixtures—and the tenant generally has seven days to note the property's condition and return one signed copy. At move-out, the landlord must complete a termination checklist identifying any damages attributed to the tenant, creating a documented record that can be compared against the move-in checklist.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 554.608, compliant operators provide two identical blank commencement inventory checklists to each incoming tenant before or at the time possession is transferred. The checklist must cover all landlord-owned items in the unit and must display the required 12-point boldface notice at the top of the first page informing tenants of their seven-day return window and their right to request the prior tenant's termination checklist. At the end of the tenancy, operators complete a termination inventory checklist documenting any damages claimed against the departing tenant, using a form identical in structure to the move-in version.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 554.608 gives tenants the right to receive two blank copies of a move-in inventory checklist and generally allows seven days to inspect the unit, record its condition, and return one copy to the landlord. Tenants are also entitled under this section to request and receive a copy of the previous tenant's termination checklist, which can reveal what damage claims were made before their tenancy began. If a landlord fails to follow these checklist requirements, that failure may affect the landlord's ability to make deductions from a security deposit; tenants who believe their rights under this provision have been violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or consulting the Michigan courts' self-help resources for guidance on available options.
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
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation