Michigan Eviction Notice

Michigan rule: 7-day written demand for possession (notice to quit) for nonpayment.

Michigan rule: No fixed statutory period; termination under a lease clause, then a written demand for possession (24 hours for lease-based drug termination with police report).

Michigan rule: 1 month's notice (or notice equal to the rent-payment interval).

They come from MCL 554.134 Termination of estate at will or by sufferance and MCL 600.5714 Summary proceedings to recover possession. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

A pay or quit notice is used when rent is overdue: the tenant can stay by paying the stated amount before the deadline. A cure or quit notice is used for other lease violations: the tenant can stay by fixing the problem, such as removing an unauthorized pet, before the deadline. In both cases the tenant may instead move out.

It depends on the state, the reason for the notice and sometimes the city. Some states allow only a few days for unpaid rent, while others require a much longer period, and ending a month-to-month tenancy usually takes longer still. Check your state's current law and enter a deadline that meets or exceeds the minimum.

In nearly every state, no. Changing locks, shutting off utilities or removing a tenant's belongings without a court order is generally treated as an illegal self-help eviction and can expose a landlord to damages. After the deadline, the next step is filing an eviction case in the local court.

Many states limit a pay or quit notice to rent only, and including late fees, utilities or other charges can make the notice defective. This notice lets you list each amount separately so you can include only what your state allows. When in doubt, many landlords demand rent alone and pursue other charges separately.

States list the methods that count, which commonly include handing it to the tenant, leaving it with another adult at the home and mailing a copy, or posting it on the door and mailing a copy. Some states also require certified mail or allow other methods. Keep a record of exactly how and when you delivered it; the proof of service page helps with that.

It is good practice to name every tenant on the lease and to address the notice to all other occupants as well. Leaving someone out can complicate a later court case, because the court order may only cover the people who were properly notified.

Accepting partial payment can, in some states, cancel the notice or waive the right to evict for that period unless the landlord follows specific steps. This notice lets you state whether partial payments will be accepted, but the effect of accepting money varies by state and is worth checking before you do it.

No. The notice is only the first step. If the tenant does not pay, fix the problem or move out by the deadline, the landlord must file a case with the court, the tenant has a chance to respond, and only a court order allows a law enforcement officer to remove the tenant.