Housing: landlord and tenants; provision for tenant to escrow rent when certificate is withheld pending compliance; modify. Amends sec. 130 of 1917 PA 167 (MCL 125.530).

This bill amends Michigan's housing law to allow tenants to withhold rent and place it into an escrow account when a landlord fails to fix safety or health hazards. Under the new provisions, if a certificate of compliance is withheld, not issued, or suspended due to such hazards, tenants are no longer required to pay rent during that period, provided the owner has had a reasonable time to apply for a temporary certificate and the issues were not caused by the tenant. The withheld funds must be held by the enforcing agency to cover the cost of necessary repairs, and landlords cannot sue for rent, late fees, or eviction while the certificate remains suspended or unissued. Essentially, the measure creates a financial safety net for tenants facing uninhabitable conditions while ensuring the money is available to fix the problems.