FOREST HILLS, MI — A new Michigan law now requires landlords to give tenants at least one way to pay rent without extra fees. The change took effect immediately after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed it Monday as part of a bipartisan package aimed at lowering costs and protecting consumers.
The rule does not outlaw payment fees entirely, but it does make sure renters have a free option. The protection was added to Michigan’s Truth in Renting Act, which gives tenants a legal path to act if a rental agreement does not follow the requirement.
What the new rent payment rule requires
Under the law, landlords must provide at least one fee-free payment method for rent. That means renters should not be forced to pay an added charge simply to submit their monthly payment if the landlord offers other options that carry no fee.
The measure leaves room for landlords to keep other payment methods that may include charges. The key point is that a tenant must have one practical way to pay without an extra cost attached.
For renters, that means checking the available payment choices before rent is due. The law is meant to prevent situations where every method comes with a fee, leaving tenants no way to avoid the added cost.
How tenants can respond if a lease breaks the rule
Michigan lawmakers placed the new protection inside the state’s existing Truth in Renting Act. That gives tenants a clear enforcement process if a lease or rental setup appears to violate the requirement.
If a rental agreement does not comply, a tenant can notify the landlord in writing. The landlord then generally has 20 days to correct the problem.
If the issue is not fixed, the tenant can take the matter to court. The law is meant to create a straightforward remedy rather than leaving renters to absorb the charge or walk away from the lease terms.
Why supporters say the change matters for renters
Supporters framed the new rule as part of a broader effort to ease pressure on households facing higher everyday costs. Whitmer signed it alongside three other bipartisan bills, all described as consumer protections focused on lowering expenses.
Forest Hills realtor and landlord Joshua Cohen said he already avoided charging extra payment fees before the law changed. He said keeping good tenants and building a strong relationship matters more than squeezing out extra money from renters.
Cohen also argued that, with prices rising, landlords should not be making more by layering fees onto people trying to rent a home. His view reflects the law’s central idea: renters should not have to pay more simply because they need a place to live.
What the law does not do
The new measure is narrower than a total ban on rent payment fees. Landlords can still charge for some payment methods, as long as they also offer at least one fee-free option.
That distinction matters for tenants because they will still need to review how their landlord accepts rent. The law protects against being boxed into only paid choices, but it does not eliminate every possible fee tied to rent payments.
Renters should look closely at the payment instructions in their lease and confirm which option is free. The practical change is not that every payment channel is now costless, but that at least one must be.
What renters in Michigan should do next
Tenants paying rent in Michigan now have a new reason to examine their lease terms and monthly payment process. If every available option appears to carry an extra charge, the state law gives them a way to challenge that setup.
Because the rule took effect immediately, it applies right away to qualifying rental arrangements. That makes the fee-free option a current requirement, not a future one.
For renters, the most important step is simple: confirm which payment method does not add a fee, and make sure that choice is available before the rent deadline arrives.
More on what homes, rents and new builds are doing near you, on RHS Commoner.
