Mich. Comp. Laws § § 554.611
Notice of forwarding address; effect of noncompliance.
Operative Text
Sec. 11. The tenant shall notify the landlord in writing at the address given under section 4 within 4 days after termination of his occupancy of an address at which communications pursuant to this act may be received. Failure to comply with this requirement relieves the landlord of the requirement of notice of damages but does not prejudice a tenant's subsequent claim for the security deposit.
Under MCL § 554.601 et seq. § 554.611, Michigan law requires a tenant to send the landlord a written forwarding address within four days of vacating the rental unit. If the tenant does not provide this address in time, the landlord is no longer obligated to send the tenant written notice of any claimed damages against the security deposit. Importantly, however, a tenant's failure to comply does not eliminate the tenant's right to later dispute or claim the return of the security deposit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 554.601 et seq. § 554.611, compliant landlords maintain a clearly documented mailing address—as required by section 4 of the act—so that departing tenants have a valid location to send their forwarding address in writing. Operators generally keep records of whether and when a written forwarding address was received after a tenant vacates, since that timing affects the landlord's obligation to send damage notices. Even when a tenant fails to provide a forwarding address within the four-day window, landlords should be aware that the tenant retains the right to pursue a security deposit claim.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 554.601 et seq. § 554.611 gives tenants a four-day window after moving out to send the landlord a written forwarding address, which helps ensure the tenant receives any required notices about claimed damages to the security deposit. If a tenant misses this deadline, the landlord may be relieved of the duty to send a damage notice, which can affect how the security deposit process unfolds. Tenants who have questions about their rights under this provision—including how a missed deadline may or may not affect a security deposit claim—can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service for general information.
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 In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation