A series of bills would give give renters power to legally withhold their next rent check.
If there’s something that makes living in that rental hazardous, the Michigan Senate bills would allow the person on the lease to notify their landlord, and if it’s not fixed in some cases 48 hours after the notification, the renters could then proceed to fix it themselves . They could then deduct the repairs from their rent check, or even withhold that money and put it in escrow until it’s fixed.
They call it the Tenant Empowerment Package. Other aspects include a 90-day notice for plans to increase the rent, and also the ability for landlords to return security deposits electronically.
Right now the full Senate is considering the plan.
