Landlord & tenant · Michigan
the short answer
Your landlord has 30 days to send you an itemized list of anything kept. No list in 30 days means no damages are owed and the whole deposit comes back. A landlord who does not comply gives up the damages claimed and owes double the amount held.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
governing statute
source ↗Checked against the statute on 2026-08-19
deadline
30 days
source ↗Checked against the statute on 2026-08-19
Across the country. 23 of the 47 states written up answer this the same way as Michigan. The shortest is 14 days, as in Alaska; the longest is 60 days, as in Alabama. Compare every state →
penalty
No itemized list within 30 days means no damages are due and the full deposit must be returned (§ 554.610). A landlord who does not comply waives the claimed damages and is liable for double the amount retained (§ 554.613(2)).
source ↗Checked against the statute on 2026-08-19
small claims limit
$7,000
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
your situation
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