The bill amends the existing law regulating landlord-tenant relationships in Michigan, specifically focusing on rental agreements and the processes surrounding tenant applications. Key changes include the addition of provisions that require landlords to provide written notices to prospective tenants regarding the information accessed for screening, criteria for application denial, and the right to obtain a free copy of any consumer report used in the decision-making process. Furthermore, landlords are mandated to accept reusable screening reports from prospective tenants and cannot charge application fees if they do so. The bill also prohibits landlords from using certain factors, such as credit scores or past judicial actions without liability findings, as deciding factors in tenant eligibility.

Additional provisions outline the responsibilities of landlords when taking adverse actions against prospective tenants, including the requirement to provide written notice detailing the reasons for the decision and the opportunity for tenants to discuss and rebut the information used. The bill emphasizes the importance of considering a tenant's current ability to pay rent and suitability for tenancy, while also establishing a protocol for processing rental applications in the order they are received. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance transparency and fairness in the rental application process, protecting the rights of prospective tenants.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 554.601