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Michigan lockout law: seven kinds of unlawful interference and what each occurrence costs

DoorKeeping team

3 min read

Michigan lists the forbidden acts one by one. Under MCL 600.2918(2), a tenant whose possessory interest has been unlawfully interfered with by the owner can recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, and recover possession if it was lost. The list includes force, removing property, changing locks, boarding up, removing doors, shutting off essential services, and introducing noise, odor or other nuisance.

The seven acts MCL 600.2918(2) names

  1. Use of force or threat of force.
  2. Removal, retention or destruction of the tenant's personal property.
  3. Changing, altering or adding to the locks or other security devices without immediately providing keys or other unlocking devices.
  4. Boarding of the premises that prevents or deters entry.
  5. Removal of doors, windows or locks.
  6. Causing, by action or omission, the termination or interruption of a service the tenant procured or the landlord must furnish, so essential that its interruption would constitute constructive eviction, including heat, running water, hot water, electric or gas service.
  7. Introduction of noise, odor or other nuisance.

Item 3 is narrower than it looks: the problem is changing locks "without immediately providing keys." Item 6 reaches omissions: letting a bill lapse or ignoring a failure can count.

What are the damages?

Subsection 2: "the amount of his or her actual damages or $200.00, whichever is greater, for each occurrence and, if possession has been lost, to recover possession." Subsection 1 is harsher for someone ejected or put out "in a forcible and unlawful manner," or kept out by force: three times the actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, in addition to recovering possession.

Example a made-up Detroit owner changes the locks and does not hand over a key, then a week later cuts the water. Those are two occurrences. If the tenant's actual damages are $150 for each, the greater of $150 or $200 applies each time: 2 x $200 = $400, plus possession. If the owner used force and the actual damages were $400, subsection 1 would give 3 x $400 = $1,200.

What is not unlawful interference?

Subsection 3 lists safe harbors: acting under a court order; temporarily interfering only as necessary to make needed repairs or inspection as provided by law; a good-faith belief by the owner, or a court officer, that the tenant abandoned the premises, after diligent inquiry, with current rent unpaid and no sign the tenant will return; and a detailed procedure when the owner believes in good faith that the tenant has been deceased for at least 18 days and there is no surviving tenant, with prior written notice of the option to name a contact, unpaid rent, and a contact attempt at least ten days before reentry.

The abandonment safe harbor needs diligent inquiry and unpaid rent. A quiet unit is not enough.

What is the lawful path?

Serve a written demand for possession under MCL 600.5716 and 600.5718, wait the 7 days that MCL 600.5714(1)(a) gives for nonpayment, and then file. A court officer carries out the order. The safe rule in every state is the same: the only lawful way to take back a unit from a tenant who will not leave is the court process, carried out by the officer the court names.

How DoorKeeping helps in Michigan

DoorKeeping keeps each lease, notice and court date in one place, so you can ask Claude or ChatGPT where a tenant stands before anyone touches a lock or a utility. Anything that goes to a tenant waits for your one-tap approval. DoorKeeping never holds your money and sends a payment only when you approve it. This is general information, not legal advice: check the current statute and your own lease.

Sources

  1. Michigan Compiled Laws 600.2918, Liability for forcible ejection or unlawful interference with possessory interest (Michigan Legislature), read Oct 30, 2026
  2. Michigan Compiled Laws 600.5714, Summary proceedings to recover possession of premises (Michigan Legislature), read Oct 30, 2026
  3. Michigan Compiled Laws 600.5718, Demand for possession or payment, service (Michigan Legislature), read Oct 30, 2026

Questions

What is the damage amount for a Michigan lockout?
Actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession if lost; forcible ejection earns three times actual damages or $200 (MCL 600.2918).
Can a Michigan landlord change locks if they hand over keys?
The statute targets changing locks without immediately providing keys or other unlocking devices.
When may a Michigan owner treat a unit as abandoned?
On a good-faith belief after diligent inquiry that the tenant will not return and current rent is not paid (MCL 600.2918(3)(c)).

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