Michigan Landlord Selling the House
Michigan rules on landlord selling the house for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: When a landlord's interest in a rental unit ends by sale, assignment, death, receivership or otherwise, the landlord (or agent) stays liable for the security deposit until one of these happens: the deposit is transferred to the new owner and the tenant is notified by ordinary mail of the… MCL 554.614
The rules in Michigan
| If the landlord sells the property | When a landlord's interest in a rental unit ends by sale, assignment, death, receivership or otherwise, the landlord (or agent) stays liable for the security deposit until one of these happens: the deposit is transferred to the new owner and the tenant is notified by ordinary mail of the transfer and the new owner's name and address; the new owner complies with the deposit-security requirements of the act (section 4); or the deposit is returned to the tenant. The section read does not address whether the lease itself continues after the sale. Source: MCL 554.614 |
|---|---|
| Tenants in foreclosure | No Michigan statute grants tenants special notice beyond eviction law. After a foreclosure sale, the occupant can be removed by summary proceedings only once the redemption period ends, which is usually 6 months for 1-4 unit homes (1 month or 30 days if abandoned; 1 year in some cases). During redemption, the buyer may inspect on 72 hours' notice. Federal PTFA 90-day notice protections apply separately. Inspection rights: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-600-3238. Holdover after redemption: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-600-5714. |
Related questions
Michigan vs. neighboring states
| State | If the landlord sells the property | Tenants in foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | When a landlord's interest in a rental unit ends by sale, assignment, death, receivership or otherwise, the landlord (or agent) stays liable for the security deposit until one of these happens: the deposit is transferred to the new owner and the tenant is notified by ordinary mail of the transfer and the new owner's name and address; the new owner complies with the deposit-security requirements of the act (section 4); or the deposit is returned to the tenant. MCL 554.614 | No Michigan statute grants tenants special notice beyond eviction law. After a foreclosure sale, the occupant can be removed by summary proceedings only once the redemption period ends, which is usually 6 months for 1-4 unit homes (1 month or 30 days if abandoned; 1 year in some cases). During redemption, the buyer may inspect on 72 hours' notice. Federal PTFA 90-day notice protections apply separately. MCL 600.5714(1)(g); MCL 600.3240(7)-(12); MCL 600.3238 |
| Indiana | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Ohio | Ohio has no state law in its landlord-tenant chapter that requires a selling landlord to transfer the security deposit to the buyer or to notify tenants of the sale. The chapter does provide that an assignment or conveyance of the landlord's interest in a rental agreement cannot allow anyone to collect rent free of the landlord's duties to keep the unit fit and habitable. Every written lease must give the owner's name and address (and the agent's, if any). Ohio Rev. Code ch. 5321 (reviewed); §§ 5321.13(E), 5321.18 | No statute — Ohio Rev. Code chs. 5321 and 1923 add no tenant protections in foreclosure or sale beyond the federal PTFA. Ohio Rev. Code chs. 1923, 5321 checked |
| Wisconsin | A landlord's interest can be transferred (for example, by sale) unless the lease expressly restricts it, and the lease's terms that are not personal to the original parties stay enforceable by and against the new owner. A new owner is liable for, or can recover for, breaches that happen while it owns the property, and the same court remedies apply between the tenant and the new owner. The statute does not set a specific security-deposit transfer procedure. Wis. Stat. § 704.09(1), (3), (4) | No statute — neither the landlord-tenant chapter (ch. 704) nor the real estate foreclosure chapter (ch. 846) contains tenant-specific foreclosure protections. The federal PTFA (90-day notice; bona fide leases honored to term, with exceptions) governs. Wis. Stat. ch. 704; ch. 846 (checked) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Michigan rental law
- Michigan Security Deposit Law
- Michigan Eviction Laws
- Michigan Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Michigan
- Michigan Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Michigan Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Michigan
- Squatters' Rights in Michigan
- Michigan Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Michigan Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Michigan Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Michigan Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Michigan Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Michigan landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Michigan
Compare landlord selling the house in all 50 states and DC →
Michigan Landlord Selling the House FAQ
What happens to my lease if my landlord sells the house in Michigan?
When a landlord's interest in a rental unit ends by sale, assignment, death, receivership or otherwise, the landlord (or agent) stays liable for the security deposit until one of these happens: the deposit is transferred to the new owner and the tenant is notified by ordinary mail of the transfer and the new owner's name and address; the new owner complies with the deposit-security requirements of the act (section 4); or the deposit is returned to the tenant. (MCL 554.614)
What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in Michigan?
No Michigan statute grants tenants special notice beyond eviction law. After a foreclosure sale, the occupant can be removed by summary proceedings only once the redemption period ends, which is usually 6 months for 1-4 unit homes (1 month or 30 days if abandoned; 1 year in some cases). During redemption, the buyer may inspect on 72 hours' notice. Federal PTFA 90-day notice protections apply separately. (MCL 600.5714(1)(g); MCL 600.3240(7)-(12); MCL 600.3238)
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.