Michigan Subletting Rules (2025 Edition)

Know the consent deadlines, calculate notice dates, and download a ready-to-print checklist before you bring in a subtenant.

For-rent sign on apartment door indicating sublet availability

Quick Snapshot

  • Legal? Yes, unless your lease bans it under MCL 554.134.
  • Typical Notice: 30 days before new tenant moves in.
  • Liability: Original tenant remains responsible for rent & damages.
  • Landlord Consent: Required if lease mentions approval or screening.
  • Penalties: Unauthorized sublets can trigger eviction & lost deposits.

Michigan law neither bans nor automatically permits subletting. Instead, MCL 554.134 allows a lease to set the ground rules. If your agreement is silent, courts default to a commercially reasonable standard: landlords must weigh a qualified replacement fairly rather than refuse out of hand. Most property managers, however, insert a “no sublet without written consent” clause to retain control over who occupies the unit.

A lease clause requiring approval makes consent mandatory. Michigan judges enforce these clauses so long as landlords apply them reasonably—screening income, credit, and rental history. By contrast, a categorical ban (“No subletting, ever”) is enforceable but still requires the landlord to mitigate losses if you vacate early.

Landlords often request:

  • Rental application & credit check for the proposed subtenant
  • Proof of income (pay stubs or offer letter)
  • Government-issued ID copy
  • Signed sublease addendum draft
Plain-Language Takeaway: If your lease says “no subletting without consent,” get the landlord’s signature before you post the room online.

Gathering What the Landlord Needs

Win faster approval by handing your landlord a tidy package. Include a mini “renter résumé” for your subtenant—credit score, employer contact, monthly income, and references. Attach a cover letter generated with our Sample Letters tool so the request feels turnkey.

Deadlines & Notice Periods

Most Michigan leases demand 30 days’ written notice before a subtenant takes possession. On month-to-month rentals, the notice usually matches the rent cycle—often one full rental period. Verbal permission can shorten the clock, but always follow up in writing to avoid “he-said-she-said” disputes.

Example: You’re leaving July 15. With a 30-day clause, the latest safe date to mail notice is June 15. Plug your lease-end date into the calculator below to see yours.

Notice Deadline Calculator

Enter your lease-end date and the required notice period. We’ll spit out the last day you can serve notice under Michigan rules.

How to Screen a Prospective Subtenant

Treat the process like a mini-landlord:

  • Run a soft-pull credit check (Score ≥ 650 is a green flag).
  • Verify income at 2.5–3× monthly rent.
  • Call at least one prior landlord for references.
  • Confirm the unit’s occupancy limit—Ann Arbor caps bedrooms by square footage.

Seal the deal with a written roommate pact—our upcoming Roommate Agreement Tool makes it easy.

Step-By-Step Subletting Process

  1. Re-read your lease for transfer clauses.
  2. Draft a consent request and send it via certified mail.
  3. Advertise the unit—university boards, Facebook Marketplace.
  4. Screen candidates: credit, income, references.
  5. Collect written landlord approval.
  6. Sign a sublease addendum and inventory checklist.
  7. Transfer utilities, keys, and parking permits.
  8. Retain forwarding address & emergency contact.

Liability, Security Deposits & Insurance

Subletting rearranges who lives in the unit, not who owes the rent. Under Michigan’s joint-and-several liability doctrine, the original tenant stays on the hook. Landlords keep the deposit until the primary lease ends; best practice is for the incoming subtenant to reimburse you privately. Require the subtenant to carry renters insurance or add them as an “additional insured” on your policy.

Plain-Language Takeaway: Until the landlord signs an assignment, you remain legally and financially responsible—even if you move three states away.

What If the Landlord Says No?

A rejection isn’t the end. Offer to add a co-signer, bump the security deposit within the 1.5-month cap, or propose a shorter sublease term. If talks stall, request free community mediation before jumping to small claims.

Troubleshooting Mid-Sublet Issues

If the subtenant pays late or trashes the place, act fast:

  • Warn in writing and set a cure deadline.
  • Serve notice per your sublease addendum.
  • Evict the subtenant through district court if necessary.

Printable Sublet Checklist

Check off each item, then hit “Print” for a clean hand-over sheet.

  • Take high-resolution photos of every room
  • Gather appliance manuals for subtenant
  • Provide landlord’s emergency contact
  • Transfer electric & gas accounts
  • Hand over two full sets of keys
  • Exchange forwarding addresses
  • Update renters-insurance policy

Related Tools & Resources

Break a Lease Early
Security Deposits Guide
Late Rent Fees
Roommate Agreement Tool

Frequently Asked Questions

Only if your lease allows mid-term rent adjustments. Subletting itself does not give landlords free rein to raise rent, but month-to-month tenants could see a 30-day notice for an increase. Always check your original lease language.

Yes. Until the landlord executes a full assignment, you remain the “tenant of record” liable for unpaid rent and damages. If the subtenant flakes, pay the rent to avoid eviction, then sue the subtenant in small claims for reimbursement.

While not legally mandated, transferring utilities protects you from surprise bills. Most providers allow a simple name change without a deposit if the new occupant meets credit requirements.

It’s smart. Your policy may not cover a subtenant’s belongings or liability. Either add them as an additional insured or require them to carry their own renters insurance with $100,000 liability coverage.

This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Always review your lease and consult a qualified attorney for guidance on your specific situation.