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What Michigan’s deposit statute requires, the deadline computed from your dates, and a ready-to-send demand letter that quotes the rule.
MCL 554.609, 554.610, 554.613 (Act 348 of 1972). The citation and the quoted fragments below come from the official source recorded for this state.
“In case of damage to the rental unit or other obligation against the security deposit, the landlord shall mail to the tenant, within 30 days after the termination of occupancy, a notice of damages that contains an itemized list of damages claimed for which the security deposit may be used as provided in section 7, including the estimated cost of repair of each damaged property item and the amounts and bases on which the landlord intends to assess the tenant.”
“Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), the notice of damages must be accompanied by a check or money order for the difference between the damages claimed and the amount of the security deposit held by the landlord and must not include any damages that were claimed on a previous termination inventory checklist prior to the tenant's occupancy of the rental unit.”
“Within 45 days after termination of the occupancy and not thereafter the landlord may commence an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for a money judgment for damages which he has claimed or in lieu thereof return the balance of the security deposit held by him to the tenant or any amount mutually agreed upon in writing by the parties.”
“Failure of the landlord to comply fully with this section constitutes waiver of all claimed damages and makes him liable to the tenant for double the amount of the security deposit retained.”
MCL 554.609, 554.610, 554.613 (Act 348 of 1972) — fragments captured from the official source on 2026-11-05.
This row was marked verified on 2026-11-05.
Within 30 days after the termination of occupancy the landlord must mail the tenant a notice of damages containing an itemized list of the damages claimed, including the estimated cost of repair of each damaged item and the amounts and bases on which the landlord intends to assess the tenant. The notice must be accompanied by a check or money order for the difference between the damages claimed and the deposit held (or, where the landlord transmits by direct deposit or electronic transfer, the amount must be deposited within 10 days after mailing the notice) and may not include damages already claimed on the pre-move-in termination inventory checklist. The notice must carry the statutory 12-point boldface statement telling the tenant to respond by mail within 7 days. The landlord may not retain any part of the deposit for damages unless it first obtains a money judgment or one of the MCL 554.613(1) exceptions applies (tenant gave no forwarding address, tenant did not respond to the notice, written agreement, or the claim is entirely unpaid rent). Failure to give the notice within 30 days constitutes agreement that no damages are due and requires immediate remittance of the full deposit (MCL 554.610).
If if the condition the statute sets out is met, the statute provides for 2× the amount due to the tenant.
The same provision also makes the landlord forfeit any right to retain any portion of the deposit.
MCL 554.613(2): failure of the landlord to comply fully with MCL 554.613 constitutes waiver of all claimed damages and makes the landlord liable to the tenant for double the amount of the security deposit retained. MCL 554.610: failure to comply with the notice-of-damages requirement within 30 days after the termination of occupancy constitutes agreement that no damages are due and the landlord shall remit the full security deposit immediately. Act 348 of 1972 contains no attorney-fee shifting provision in favor of the tenant.
The form asks for the deposit paid, the amount returned, and the dates. You see the whole letter, watermarked, before you pay. $9.99 for the letter, $19.99 for the pack with the follow-up letter, complaint options and the small-claims checklist.
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The deadline is computed from the dates you enter using the rule recorded for Michigan: 30 calendar days after the date your occupancy ended.
Where the statute has a verified penalty, the letter states it as possible exposure and names the condition the statute sets. If if the condition the statute sets out is met, the statute provides for 2× the amount due to the tenant.
Tell the builder that you received one. The letter acknowledges it and disputes the amounts you say are wrong.
No. It is a self-help document tool, not a law firm. If your claim is large or disputed, speak to a landlord-tenant lawyer or legal aid.