Michigan House Bill HB5756

Michigan 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/30/24
• Refer: 5/30/24

Caption

Housing: landlord and tenants; termination of tenancy; establish grounds of good cause. Amends secs. 3238, 5714, 5735, 5744, 5775 & 5779 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.3238 et seq.).

Impact

If enacted, the bill would adjust existing laws to enhance tenant protections, especially concerning eviction processes and practices within mobile home communities. Notably, it introduces a requirement for landlords to provide advance notice before inspecting properties, thereby balancing the rights of landlords to maintain properties with tenants' rights to privacy. Additionally, the legislation seeks to protect tenants from arbitrary evictions by emphasizing the necessity of just cause for terminations, which could potentially stabilize housing situations for vulnerable populations.

Summary

House Bill 5756 proposes amendments to the Revised Judicature Act of 1961 aimed at providing clearer guidelines for the termination of tenancies, particularly within mobile home parks. The bill specifically outlines the circumstances under which a landlord may legally terminate a tenant's lease, mandating that such terminations must be based on 'just cause'. This ensures that tenants cannot be removed from their homes without legitimate reasons, which include unlawful use of the property, failure to comply with lease agreements, or at least three instances of late rent payments within a year.

Contention

There may be significant debate regarding this bill, particularly from landlord associations and property rights advocates who argue that imposing strict requirements could hinder landlords' ability to manage property and enforce leasing terms effectively. Critics may raise concerns about the potential for increased landlord-tenant disputes if 'just cause' parameters are perceived as being overly stringent. Thus, while the bill aims to bolster tenant rights, it also opens a platform for contention regarding the balance of power in landlord-tenant relationships and the business implications for property owners.