Michigan requires a 7-day written Demand for Possession to pay the rent owed or move out. The demand must state the amount due. The state court form is DC 100a. That form is guidance, not statute.
Worked example for Michigan
Example: A tenant does not pay rent when due, and you give a written 7-day Demand for Possession on May 1, 2026, stating the amount due. The 7-day period runs from that notice. The state court form for this demand is DC 100a. That form is guidance, not statute.
Michigan timelines and limits
Notice
A written 7-day Demand for Possession to pay the rent owed or move out
Contents
The demand must state the amount due
State court form
DC 100a, which is guidance, not statute
Michigan FAQ
How much notice does a Michigan landlord have to give for nonpayment?
A written 7-day notice to quit, under MCL 554.134(2). The demand must state the amount due, under MCL 600.5716.
What must the demand say?
It must state the amount due.
Is DC 100a the statute?
No. SCAO form DC 100a (Demand for Possession, Nonpayment of Rent) is the state court form. It is guidance, not statute.
This is general information, not legal advice. The verified rule and official sources above control. Check the source or a local attorney for your situation.
Related Michigan rules
Eviction court process & timeline
The summons orders the tenant to appear for trial within 10 days of issuance (served at least 3 days before), or within 30 days in proceedings under § 5726.
$45. If the complaint seeks only recovery of possession (summary proceedings), the filing fee is $45. Joining a money-judgment claim adds the ordinary money-claim filing fee. Statute text: "If the complaint is for the recovery of possession of premises only, the fee for filing a proceeding under this chapter is $45.00. (2) If a claim for a money judgment is joined with a claim for the recovery of possession of premises, the plaintiff shall pay a supplemental filing fee in the same amount as established by law for the filing of a claim for a money judgment in the same court. (3) Of each filing fee collected under this section, at the end of each month, the clerk of the district cour" (MCL 600.5756(1)).
Self-help eviction is prohibited: a landlord may not remove a tenant by changing the locks, turning off utilities, or otherwise interfering with possession, except in limited circumstances, and may owe damages. Landlords must use the court summary proceedings.
A landlord may recover possession through summary proceedings when a person holds over after the lease term ends, after the lease is terminated under a power in the lease or implied by law, or after a notice to quit.
Under the Housing Law of Michigan, while a dwelling lacks a certificate of compliance, or its certificate is suspended for hazards to health or safety, the duty to pay rent is suspended and the rent is paid into an escrow account (MCL 125.530(3)). This does not apply if the occupants caused the conditions. The Housing Law covers each city, village and township with a population of 10,000 or more. In places under 100,000, it does not cover private dwellings and 2-family dwellings unless the local legislative body adopts it by resolution (MCL 125.401(2)).
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