Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.1451
Definitions.
Operative Text
Sec. 51. (1) The definitions in section 11 shall apply to this chapter, unless otherwise provided in this chapter. (2) As used in this chapter: (a) "Low and moderate income housing" means housing financed by bond issues authorized under this act, by federally-aided mortgages as defined in section 11(c), or by other programs directed toward providing housing within the financial means of low and moderate income families as the authority shall determine. (b) "Probable aggregate annual income" means the total annual income of the chief wage earner or supporter of the family, plus the income of secondary wage earners in excess of $1,200.00 per year and the income of minors in excess of $800.00 per year, but excluding completely the income of college students. (c) "Carrying charges" or "rental" means all regular charges paid on a periodic basis to a housing corporation by a person or family living in a rental or cooperative housing project, excluding initial down payments. (d) "Housing charges" means monthly rentals or carrying charges, and includes estimated or actual expenditures for heat, light, water, cooking fuel, and other utilities, and other reasonable expenditures which the authority determines to be a part of housing charges. (e) "Shelter rent" means the rental or carrying charges established for occupancy in housing projects, exclusive of payments for taxes and charges for heat, light, water, cooking fuel, and other necessary utilities. (f) "Low income persons" means those persons designated as "low income persons" by the authority under section 22(o).
Michigan statute MCL § 125.1451 establishes a set of definitions that govern how key financial and housing terms are interpreted throughout this chapter of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority Act. The provision clarifies concepts such as what counts as household income for eligibility purposes, how recurring housing costs are categorized, and what qualifies as low and moderate income housing. These definitions form the interpretive foundation for other rules in the chapter, ensuring consistent application across programs administered under this act.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and housing corporations operating under programs governed by MCL § 125.1451 should be familiar with how terms like 'carrying charges,' 'housing charges,' and 'shelter rent' are defined, as these distinctions affect how costs are reported and charged to residents. For example, 'housing charges' under this section include utilities such as heat, light, and water, while 'shelter rent' explicitly excludes those utility costs as well as taxes. Operators participating in bond-financed or federally-aided mortgage programs should ensure their fee structures and disclosures align with these statutory definitions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in housing projects covered by MCL § 125.1451 benefit from clearly defined terms that govern how their income is calculated for eligibility and how their housing costs are categorized. For instance, the definition of 'probable aggregate annual income' excludes the income of college students entirely and only partially counts secondary earners and minors, which may affect a household's eligibility determination. Tenants who believe their income or charges have been calculated incorrectly under these definitions may wish to contact the Michigan State Housing Development Authority or a local tenant-rights organization for general information about how these definitions apply.
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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