Rep. Amos O'Neal

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Michigan courts to seal eviction records under specific circumstances, directly affecting landlords, tenants, and the judicial system. A judge may order records confidential if the landlord's case lacked merit, the tenant won or settled the dispute, or if keeping the records public would harm the tenant's ability to find future housing. The law also mandates sealing for mortgage-related evictions if the tenant had already vacated the property or did not receive proper notice to leave. Additionally, records can be sealed if the eviction judgment is five years old or if the tenant faced financial hardship due to job loss or medical issues during a state of emergency.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan law to clarify the specific reasons a local housing authority can legally end a tenant's lease in public housing projects. It defines "just cause" for eviction to include lease violations, using the property for illegal activities, or maintaining unsafe and unsanitary living conditions. The legislation directly affects residents of government-operated housing and the agencies that manage them by standardizing the rules for terminating tenancies. It also establishes that these termination actions must follow established legal procedures for recovering possession of premises.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state court administrative office to create and distribute a standardized form that summarizes tenant rights and lists available legal resources. The form must be included as an addendum to every lease agreement provided to tenants and posted in common areas of rental properties. Additionally, specific sections regarding protections for victims of domestic violence, criminal sexual conduct, or stalking must be highlighted in a larger font size. Landlords are directly affected by this requirement to provide and display the form, while tenants gain clearer access to information about their legal protections under Michigan housing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to provide a specific tenant rights form to the public. Within 60 days of the state court administrative office creating this form, the authority must keep physical copies in its office and post the document on its website. The form itself is a summary of tenant rights already established under the existing Truth in Renting Act. This change ensures that the authority makes this information easily accessible to anyone seeking to understand their rental protections.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Michigan's eviction laws to strengthen protections for tenants facing retaliatory evictions and to limit the financial penalties landlords can impose. It prohibits courts from issuing eviction orders if a landlord terminates a lease primarily to punish a tenant for exercising legal rights, such as reporting safety violations or joining a tenant organization. Additionally, the bill requires judges to deduct rent owed due to landlord breaches from any eviction judgment and bars landlords from collecting late fees in these cases. Finally, it adjusts the maximum fees courts can award to tenants for legal costs during eviction proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords participating in Michigan's rent vendoring program to certify that their rental units are safe, habitable, and free of conditions that could spread disease. It mandates that the state housing department remove landlords from the program if they have unresolved health or safety violations or if they fail to pay property taxes. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from evicting tenants solely because the department terminated their participation in the program due to these issues, and it requires the department to make a specific tenant rights form available on its website.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Michigan's Truth in Renting Act to clarify the legal remedies available to tenants when landlords violate specific rental agreement rules. It allows tenants to sue for terminating their lease, stopping future violations, or recovering damages of $250 to $500 if a landlord fails to fix a problem within 20 days after receiving written notice. The law also permits immediate legal action without prior notice if a landlord has previously been found guilty of the same violation or knowingly ignored the rule. Additionally, the bill ensures that winning tenants can recover court costs and attorney fees while preventing landlords from facing multiple penalties for the same specific clause in their contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Michigan's landlord-tenant laws to establish specific deadlines for landlords to begin repairs after receiving written notice of defective conditions. It requires landlords to start fixing life-threatening or health-hazardous issues, such as lack of heat, water, electricity, or mold, within 24 hours, while allowing seven days for appliance repairs and ten days for other problems. The legislation also clarifies that landlords must keep rental properties in reasonable repair and comply with health and safety laws, except when damage is caused by the tenant's intentional or irresponsible actions. Tenants can deliver these notices via email, personal delivery, electronic portals, or text messages, provided the method ensures the landlord actually receives the information.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands protections for tenants in Michigan who are victims of violence by allowing them to terminate their rental leases early without penalty under specific circumstances. It modifies existing state laws to require landlords to accept such early lease terminations and to return security deposits promptly when these victims exercise their right to leave. The legislation directly affects landlords and tenants by clarifying the notice requirements and procedures needed to end a lease agreement early due to violence.