Bill > HB4989

This bill modifies Michigan's housing law regarding tenant rights when a certificate of compliance for residential premises is withheld or suspended. The bill changes the language around occupancy and rent payment when a property does not meet health and safety standards. Specifically, if a certificate of compliance is withheld or suspended, tenants are now waived from paying rent during that period, rather than being required to pay rent into an escrow account. The bill also eliminates previous provisions about escrow accounts and clarifies that landlords cannot take legal action for rent or possession during this time, except in cases where the hazardous conditions were caused by the tenant. The rent suspension does not apply if the owner can prove that the health or safety hazards were created by the occupants themselves. The bill modifies existing language to be more precise, replacing words like "shall" with "must" and making grammatical improvements. Notably, this bill is tied to another piece of legislation (House Bill 4990) and will only take effect if that companion bill is also enacted into law.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4989