Michigan landlords must provide 2 blank inventory checklists at lease commencement; tenants return 1 within 7 days of possession unless both agree otherwise.
Key takeaways
- Prepare the blank copies before handing over keys.
- Check the notice's size and position before printing.
- Record the possession date and the returned copy's arrival.
- Keep the completed checklist with the tenancy records.
This guide is not a complete guide to Michigan landlord-tenant law, and it does not replace reading the statute or talking to a Michigan attorney about your own lease.
What must a Michigan landlord give the tenant at the start of a lease?
At the commencement of the lease, the landlord must furnish the tenant 2 blank copies of a commencement inventory checklist, according to MCL 554.608. That duty comes first in the sequence, and nothing else in the process works until the tenant has the forms in hand. Put the packet together before anyone hands over keys, so that the tenant has everything they need on day one.
A commencement packet has three parts: the blank checklist, the notice that must appear on it, and a record of when the completed copy comes back. The statute speaks directly to the first two.
Print both blank copies at the same time and label them so no one mixes them up. Since the statute asks the tenant to return only one copy, plan on the second copy staying with the tenant. Keep a clean master file of the blank form as well, because you will need it again at move-out.
Why does the move-in form have to match the move-out form?
Your move-in checklist must match the move-out form: the commencement form "shall be identical to the form used for the termination inventory checklist" ( MCL 554.608). Treat that as a design rule for your paperwork, not a formality, because it decides how easy the move-out comparison will be.
When the rows match, the move-out comparison becomes a line-by-line check instead of an argument about what the unit looked like before the tenant arrived.
How long does the tenant have to return the checklist?
The tenant has 7 days after receiving possession to review the checklist, note the condition of the property, and return 1 copy to the landlord, unless the two of you agree to a shorter period ( MCL 554.608).
The clock starts when the tenant receives possession, not when the lease is signed. If the tenant gets the keys on a Saturday, that is the day to count from, and the form should say the same. Settle any shorter period with the tenant before move-in rather than after the fact.
Here is the sequence in one place:
| Step | Who | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnish 2 blank copies of the commencement checklist | Landlord | At the commencement of the lease | MCL 554.608(2) |
| Review, note the condition, and return 1 copy | Tenant | Within 7 days after receiving possession, unless the parties agree to a shorter period | MCL 554.608(3) |
| Complete a termination checklist listing claimed damages | Landlord | At termination of occupancy | MCL 554.608(5) |
Every step has its own citation, so you can check the wording against the statute before you print anything.
What notice has to appear on the checklist?
The checklist must carry a notice in 12 point boldface type at the top of the first page, and the statute gives the wording: "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." The source is MCL 554.608.
Check the font size on the printed page, not in the file. Set the notice to bold, confirm the size, and place it at the very top of page one, above the property address and the room list. Copy the wording exactly as the statute gives it instead of rewriting it in plainer language.
What should the tenant do when the checklist arrives?
The tenant should record the property's condition and send the completed copy back. That is the job the form is built for, so the landlord's role is to make it simple: a clear form, a clearly stated return date, and a way for the tenant to send the copy back that leaves a record.
Expect notes, not just check marks. A tenant who writes that the hallway hardwood is scuffed is doing what the form asks them to do. Read each note, date it when it arrives, and file it with the tenancy records. Answering an unexpected note with an argument on the spot rarely helps, and a dated reply in writing is easier to rely on later.
In practice, a note made at the start protects both sides: the tenant can show what was already wrong, and the landlord can show what changed. Say so plainly when you hand the forms over, so the tenant understands the point before they start filling in boxes.
What happens if the tenant returns the checklist late or not at all?
Keep a written record of the possession date, any return, and follow-up messages. Those records are what you would rely on if a dispute ever arose, and a Michigan attorney can tell you what a missing checklist means for your situation.
What does the landlord complete when the tenancy ends?
At termination of occupancy, the landlord completes a termination inventory checklist that lists all the damages the landlord claims were caused by the tenant ( MCL 554.608). Because the form matches the move-in version, the comparison is direct: the rows you filled in at the start are the rows you check at the end.
Anything you list should be something you can show. Michigan has a separate section on itemized damages, MCL 554.609, whose title reads "Itemized list of damages; check or money order; contents of notice of damages." Read it in full before you prepare any notice of damages.
Where should the move-in paperwork be filed?
Keep the move-in paperwork together in the tenancy file. Keeping everything together means the move-in and move-out comparison can be made from a single place, which is useful when a bookkeeper or a new manager picks up the file.
The log matters most. Write down the date the lease commenced, the date the tenant received possession, the date the returned copy arrived, and any shorter return period the two of you agreed to. A log with those four entries lets you find the right paper copy quickly.
Where do move-in packets usually go wrong?
Timing and format deserve a final check before handover. Common slips include a checklist that arrives after the keys, a notice that is smaller than 12 point or missing from the top of page one, a move-out form that does not match the move-in form, and no written record of the date the tenant took possession.
Each of these gaps is avoidable with a little planning. Print the packet a day early, check the font size, match the forms, and write down the possession date on the day it happens. A short checklist you run before keys change hands covers all four.
What goes in the room-by-room section?
The room-by-room section records the condition of each room and its contents. It should be specific enough that two people looking at the same wall would write the same thing. Start with each room, then list the fittings and appliances in it, such as doors, locks, windows, screens, the stove, the refrigerator, and the bathroom fittings. Add a line for keys and remotes, because a missing key is a condition of its own. For each line, leave space for the tenant to write a short note about condition, and give them a checkbox or two-word scale, such as good or worn, so that a quick scan does not get lost in long prose. A plain layout is usually easier for a tenant to complete correctly.
Photos can support the checklist, but they do not replace it. Take dated photos of each room before the tenant moves in, and label them with the room name so they match the rows on the form. Keep the photos with the move-in copy in the tenancy file, and do not send the photos in place of the completed form. The completed form is the document the statute describes.
What should the landlord bring to move-in day?
Bring the blank copies, a pen that works on paper, a copy of the notice text, and a printed log sheet. Having these on hand lets you complete the handover in one visit rather than sending the paperwork later. Hand over both blank copies at the start, and say out loud when the tenant takes possession, then write that date on the log before you leave. If the tenant has questions about the form, answer them in writing, so that the answer and the question are both on file. A walk-through is a sensible practical step.
Illustrative example: checking the handover record
Comparing the room labels shows that 5 rooms still need photos. Take and label those photos before move-in, then keep them with the completed checklist. The room counts illustrate a filing check, not a legal requirement.
Today, print your current blank checklist and compare it with the move-out master before preparing the handover packet.
Does the checklist need a signature?
Check MCL 554.608 and your lease before deciding how to handle signatures. Follow whatever the lease says about how forms are exchanged. If you add a signature line, it gives you a clearer record of who completed the form, but the date of return still matters just as much. For related filing considerations, see our guide to signing and timing checks.
How does the checklist relate to the security deposit?
The checklist is a record of the property's condition at the start and the end, and that record is what you will compare when you decide how much of a deposit to keep. Read the statute's deposit rules before calculating deductions or returning funds. Keep the checklist and the deposit record in the same tenancy file, so the two line up when a question comes up. Use the move-in notes and photos to support the comparison rather than relying on memory.
What happens if the unit is not ready on the day the tenant expects to move in?
A late handover changes the possession date used to count the return deadline. Record the date the tenant actually receives possession, not the date the lease said they would. If you give the keys early or late, put a short written note on the checklist or in your log explaining what changed. Telling the tenant the new date in writing avoids a dispute about when the clock started.
How should the blank forms be stored between tenancies?
Keep the blank master separate from completed tenant copies. Never let the master pick up notes from a previous tenant, because a stray note could show up on the next move-in as if it were the tenant's observation. Keep a single archived copy of each returned checklist in the tenancy file, and scan it if you prefer digital records.
Can the tenant ask for more time to return the checklist?
Check the full statute before agreeing to an extension. Keep any timing agreement with the tenancy file and record the agreed date.
How should you compare the two checklists at move-out?
Compare them row by row, using the move-in copy as the baseline and the termination checklist as the record of what you claim. Rows that did not change can be marked and left alone. Date any photos you take during the inspection, and keep them with the two forms.
What should a bookkeeper check in the move-in file?
A bookkeeper should check that the dates agree across the file before the file is closed. Confirm that the lease commencement date, the possession date in the log, and the date the returned copy arrived all line up with the return deadline. Compare the blank master with the form used for move-out. Look at the notice on the first page and check its printed size and placement. Finally, check that the deposit record and the checklist describe the same unit, the same tenant, and the same rooms, since a mismatch in names or addresses is the easiest problem to miss and the hardest to explain later. For the separate task of recording repair requests, see our guide to maintenance request flow.
Who should own the move-in checklist?
One person should own the checklist from start to finish, and that is usually the landlord or the bookkeeper, depending on who handles the lease. A second person should review the file before the tenancy starts, because a second set of eyes catches the missing notice or the mismatched form that the first person stopped seeing.
How do you put this into practice?
Build the handover routine: two blank copies, a log sheet, and a fixed place to write the possession date. Finally, set a reminder for the day the returned copy is due, counted from possession, so a missing copy gets a written follow-up while the facts are still fresh. Review the packet once a year against the statute text.