January 22, 2009, Introduced by Rep. Hammel and referred to the Committee on Intergovernmental and Regional Affairs.
A bill to amend 1972 PA 348, entitled
"An act to regulate relationships between landlords and tenants
relative to rental agreements for rental units; to regulate the
payment, repayment, use and investment of security deposits; to
provide for commencement and termination inventories of rental
units; to provide for termination arrangements relative to rental
units; to provide for legal remedies; and to provide penalties,"
by amending section 8 (MCL 554.608).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 8. (1) The landlord shall make use of inventory
checklists both at the commencement and termination of occupancy
for each rental unit which detail the condition of the rental unit
for which a security deposit is required.
(2) At the commencement of the lease, the landlord shall
furnish the tenant 2 blank copies of a commencement inventory
checklist, which form shall be identical to the form used for the
termination inventory checklist. The checklist shall include all
items in the rental unit owned by the landlord including, but not
limited to, carpeting, draperies, appliances, windows, furniture,
walls, closets, shelves, paint, doors, plumbing fixtures and
electrical fixtures.
(3) Unless the landlord and tenant agree to complete their
inventory checklist within a shorter period, the tenant shall
review the checklist, note the condition of the property and return
1 copy of the checklist to the landlord within 7 days after
receiving possession of the premises.
(4) The checklist shall contain the following notice in 12
point boldface type at the top of the first page: "You should
complete this checklist, noting the condition of the rental
property, and return it to the landlord within 7 days after
obtaining possession of the rental unit. You are also entitled to
request and receive a copy of the last termination inventory
checklist which shows what claims were chargeable to the last prior
tenants.".
(5) At the termination of the occupancy, the landlord shall
complete a termination inventory checklist listing all the damages
he claims were caused by the tenant. The landlord shall provide the
tenant with an opportunity to be present during the inspection that
produces the termination inventory checklist and shall give the
tenant at least 10 days' written notice before conducting the
inspection. The tenant shall notify the landlord under section 3 of
a forwarding address where the landlord can send the written
notice. If the tenant fails to provide a forwarding address, the
landlord is relieved of the obligation to provide written notice
and may conduct the inspection without the tenant being notified.