Mich. Comp. Laws § § 554.616
Effective date and applicability of act.
Operative Text
Sec. 16. This act takes effect April 1, 1973 and applies only to security deposits held pursuant to leases entered into, renewed or renegotiated after April 1, 1973.
Michigan's Security Deposit Act (MCL § 554.601 et seq., § 554.616) established April 1, 1973 as the date on which its rules became operative. Critically, the Act's protections and requirements apply only to security deposits connected to leases that were entered into, renewed, or renegotiated after that date. Leases that were already in place before April 1, 1973 and were never renewed or renegotiated fall outside the Act's scope entirely.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 554.601 et seq., § 554.616, compliant operators recognize that the Security Deposit Act's obligations—such as deposit handling, itemization, and return requirements—govern any lease entered into, renewed, or renegotiated after April 1, 1973. Because virtually all modern leases postdate that threshold, property managers generally treat the Act's full framework as applicable to their current rental agreements. Maintaining accurate records of lease execution and renewal dates supports a clear compliance posture under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 554.616 of Michigan's Security Deposit Act establishes that tenants whose leases were signed, renewed, or renegotiated after April 1, 1973 are covered by the Act's protections regarding security deposits. For nearly all renters today, this effective-date provision means the full set of rights under MCL § 554.601 et seq. applies to their tenancy. Tenants who believe their security deposit rights have been violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or consulting with a legal aid office to understand available remedies under the Act.
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
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