Michigan landlords who wrongfully withhold deposits may owe up to 2× the deposit amount. Learn your rights under MCL §554.613.
Analyze My Michigan Claim (Free)Law verified March 11, 2026
Find out if your Michigan landlord may owe you. free, 2 minutes
Check My DepositDepending on the facts and how a court applies MCL §554.613, you may be entitled to recover up to 2 times the amount wrongfully kept. This includes the deposit itself and any modeled statutory multiplier. The tenant must notify the landlord of a forwarding address within four days after termination to preserve the statutory double-damages remedy tied to noncompliance with the notice-and-return procedure.
Whether any multiplier applies may depend on intent, bad faith, required notice, or other state-specific facts.
Penalty
Depending on the facts and how a court applies MCL §554.613, you may be entitled to recover up to 2 times the amount wrongfully kept. This includes the deposit itself and any modeled statutory multiplier. The tenant must notify the landlord of a forwarding address within four days after termination to preserve the statutory double-damages remedy tied to noncompliance with the notice-and-return procedure.
Whether any multiplier applies may depend on intent, bad faith, required notice, or other state-specific facts.
Example
MCL §554.613
To recover penalties under MCL §554.613, you generally need to: document the move-out date and the missed deadline, send a written demand letter citing the statute, and, if necessary, file in Michigan small claims court (up to $7,000).
A demand letter that specifically cites MCL §554.613 and calculates the potential Potentially up to 2x your deposit often prompts landlords to settle without going to court.
Questions
Your Michigan landlord has 30 days after your move-out date to return your security deposit along with an itemized statement of any deductions. This deadline is set by MCL §554.613.
If your landlord misses the 30-day deadline, you may be entitled to up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld under MCL §554.613. The penalty applies when your landlord acted in bad faith.
No. Michigan law under MCL §554.613 explicitly prohibits landlords from deducting for normal wear and tear. This includes faded paint, minor scuffs, small nail holes, and carpet thinning from regular use. Deductions must be for actual damage beyond what normal living causes.
Under MCL §554.613, you may recover up to 2x the deposit amount wrongfully withheld. You must show the landlord acted in bad faith.
To recover the penalty, you must show your landlord acted in bad faith under MCL §554.613, knowingly withholding the deposit without legitimate grounds.
More Michigan Topics
Free analysis | Michigan law | 2 minutes
Check My Michigan Deposit (Free)