Michigan Lease Termination Letter (Ending a Lease Early)

A free Michigan lease termination letter (ending a lease early) that follows Michigan law. Fill in the boxes, check the rules below, then print or copy it. Keep a copy and proof of how you sent it.

What Michigan law says

Ending a lease: military, medical, death	Leases must let a tenant who has lived in the unit more than 13 months end the lease with 60 days' written notice if the tenant (a) becomes eligible during the lease term for subsidized senior citizen housing and gives written proof, or (b) becomes unable to live independently, as certified by a physician in a notarized statement. This applies to leases entered into, renewed or renegotiated after June 15, 1995. Source: MCL 554.601a
Ending a lease: domestic violence	A tenant with a reasonable fear of present danger to the tenant or the tenant's child from domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking is released from rent. The tenant must send written notice of intent to seek release by certified mail, with a written statement of that fear and one qualifying document. Qualifying documents: a valid personal protection order (or similar order), a probation, parole or conditional release order with no-contact conditions, a police report that resulted in charges (charges filed within 14 days, or older charges with a verifiable present threat), or a qualified third party's verified report in the statutory form. Liability: rent ends no later than the first day of the second month that rent is due after notice, and not before the tenant moves out. Prepaid amounts, such as first and last month's rent, are not refunded, and the deposit may still be withheld as allowed by law. The lease must include, or the landlord must post or deliver, the statutory notice of this right. Source: MCL 554.601b

Ending a lease: military, medical, death

Leases must let a tenant who has lived in the unit more than 13 months end the lease with 60 days' written notice if the tenant (a) becomes eligible during the lease term for subsidized senior citizen housing and gives written proof, or (b) becomes unable to live independently, as certified by a physician in a notarized statement. This applies to leases entered into, renewed or renegotiated after June 15, 1995.

Source: MCL 554.601a

Ending a lease: domestic violence

A tenant with a reasonable fear of present danger to the tenant or the tenant's child from domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking is released from rent. The tenant must send written notice of intent to seek release by certified mail, with a written statement of that fear and one qualifying document. Qualifying documents: a valid personal protection order (or similar order), a probation, parole or conditional release order with no-contact conditions, a police report that resulted in charges (charges filed within 14 days, or older charges with a verifiable present threat), or a qualified third party's verified report in the statutory form. Liability: rent ends no later than the first day of the second month that rent is due after notice, and not before the tenant moves out. Prepaid amounts, such as first and last month's rent, are not refunded, and the deposit may still be withheld as allowed by law. The lease must include, or the landlord must post or deliver, the statutory notice of this right.

Source: MCL 554.601b

Fill in your letter

Nothing you type leaves your browser. Replace anything still highlighted. If a lease, city rule or court form requires different wording, that controls.

To: [landlord or manager name], [landlord address]

From: [your name], tenant at [rental address]

I am ending my lease early under MCL 554.601a for this reason: [the reason the law allows, e.g. active military orders].

I have attached [the documents the law requires, e.g. a copy of the orders].

My termination date is [termination date], and I will return the keys by [key return date].

Please return my security deposit, less only lawful deductions, to [forwarding address].

Date: [today's date]
Tenant: [your name]
Signature: ____________________

How to send it: use a method you can prove — certified mail with return receipt, or email/text if your lease allows notices that way. Write down the date.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.