Topic Menu
If you need to move because of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault, Michigan law lets you end your lease early to move to a safe location. You can do this without having to pay rent through the end of the lease.
If you share a lease with other tenants, ending your lease early with this process only covers you. The other tenants listed on your lease will still owe rent, including your portion of the rent, under the original agreement after you move out.
How to End Your Lease Early
The Michigan law that gives you the right to end a lease early in some situations sets out steps to end the lease:
- Send written notice to your landlord
- Include documents that show you are at risk if you don’t move
- Pay the final portion of rent and move out
The rest of this article covers the details in each step.
Step 1: Write a Letter to Your Landlord
The letter you send your landlord needs to include specific information. The letter must say this or something very similar:
“I am a tenant at [your address]. I have a reasonable apprehension of present danger to [myself and/or my child] from [domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault]. This is notice that I am seeking an early release from my rental obligation under MCL 554.601b.
I state under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Michigan that the information above is true. By submitting this statement I do not waive any legally recognized privilege protecting any communications that I may have with the agency or representative whose name appears below or with any other person or entity. I understand that my obligation to pay rent will end no later than the first day of the second month that rent is due after I give notice. My obligation to pay rent does not end until I vacate the premises. I understand that my landlord may keep prepaid amounts, including first and last months' rent and all or part of my security deposit or other amounts as allowed under law.”
The letter should also describe the documents you’re sending with it. For example you can add:
- “I am attaching a copy of a police report describing an incident that puts me at risk.”
- “I am attaching a personal protection order to this letter.”
- “A report from a qualified third party is attached to this letter.”
You can describe more than one document, if you have more than one.
Step 2: Include Documents to Show You Are at Risk
Send your landlord a document or documents showing that you or your child are at risk if you do not move. Attach the documents to the letter, as described in the section above. Any of the following documents are acceptable:
- A personal protection order (PPO) against the person you fear, or a similar protection order from another state
- An order in a child protection case removing the person you fear from the home
- An order saying the person you fear can't contact you, such as a probation, conditional release, or parole order
- A report from a qualified third party. This is explained below.
- A police report, if charges have been filed. Read more on timing below.
If you want to use a police report as a document to show you are at risk, the prosecutor must have filed criminal charges based on that report. The timing matters:
- If the prosecutor filed charges within the last 14 days, the police report is enough on its own.
- If the prosecutor filed charges more than 14 days ago, you need the police report and a report from a qualified third party saying the person is still a danger to you.
A qualified third party is someone in one of these roles:
- A sexual assault or domestic violence counselor
- A licensed health professional, such as a doctor, a nurse, or a psychiatrist
- A mental health professional, such as a counselor, a therapist, or a psychologist
- A clergy member, if they are part of a tax-exempt religious institution that’s listed in a telephone book
You can download a blank Third Party Report form for them to fill out.
Step 3: Pay the Final Portion of Rent and Move Out
You must pay one more month of rent after you send the letter and documents to your landlord.
For example, if you give your landlord notice in January, you are responsible for paying rent for January and February. You can move out earlier but will still owe rent through the month after the letter. If you stay longer, you must continue to pay rent until you actually move out.
If you paid your final month’s rent when you moved in, you can ask your landlord to apply it to the one month's rent you have to pay after you move out. However, the law on ending the lease does not require the landlord to apply prepaid rent in this situation.
If other tenants are listed on the lease, they will be responsible for all the rent after you move out. If other tenants also need to move to stay safe, they must to send a letter and include documents to show they are at risk.
Your Security Deposit and Forwarding Address
To get your security deposit back, you must follow the same rules that would apply for any lease coming to an end. You must leave the home in good condition and give your landlord a forwarding address when you move out. To learn about getting your security deposit back please see Security Deposit Help for Tenants.
You do not have to use your new home's address as the forwarding address. The address must be a place where you can get mail. Important notices related to your deposit will go there, so check the mail there regularly. You are allowed to use a post office box or a mailing address for a family member or friend. Your landlord is only supposed to share your forwarding address for regular business purposes. They can’t purposely give your forwarding address to the person you fear. However, using a different safe address can help keep your new address private.
How to Find Other Help
For more help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, or the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. You can also search for a domestic violence agency in your county on Michigan Legal Help’s Community Services page.