HOUSE BILL NO. 4891
A bill to amend 1972 PA 348, entitled
"An act to regulate relationships between landlords and tenants relative to rental agreements for rental units; to regulate the payment, repayment, use and investment of security deposits; to provide for commencement and termination inventories of rental units; to provide for termination arrangements relative to rental units; to provide for legal remedies; and to provide penalties,"
(MCL 554.601 to 554.616) by amending the title and by adding section 7a.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
An act to regulate relationships between landlords and tenants relative to rental agreements for rental units; to regulate the payment, repayment, use and investment of security deposits; to regulate the repayment of certain fees charged to prospective tenants and to provide exceptions; to provide for commencement and termination inventories of rental units; to provide for termination arrangements relative to rental units; to provide for legal remedies; and to provide penalties.
Sec. 7a. (1) Beginning on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section and except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), a landlord that denies a prospective tenant's application for a rental unit shall refund the application fee paid by the prospective tenant for the rental unit.
(2) A landlord that denies a prospective tenant's application for a rental unit shall not refund the background screening fee portion of the application fee if the landlord provides a copy of the background screening report to the tenant.
(3) If a landlord violates subsection (1), a prospective tenant may bring a civil action against the landlord for actual damages or $1,000.00, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney fees, and the costs of bringing the action.