What Michigan requires for inventory checklists
For rental units requiring a security deposit, MCL 554.608 requires condition checklists at the beginning and end of occupancy.
| Stage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Lease commencement | The landlord provides two blank copies of the initial checklist, using a form identical to the termination checklist. Include all landlord-owned items in the unit. |
| Tenant review | Unless both parties agree to a shorter period, the tenant reviews, records condition, and returns one copy within seven days after receiving possession. |
| Required notice | The first page must carry the statutory notice in 12-point bold type at the top. It explains return timing and the right to request the last termination checklist showing claims chargeable to prior tenants. |
| End of occupancy | The landlord completes a termination checklist listing damages claimed to have been caused by the tenant. |
Use the exact notice in subsection (4) when preparing a form. This summary is not a replacement notice.
Scope: this guide focuses on inventory records. Examples and organizing methods below are suggestions, not government-issued forms or advice about a particular claim. Deposit notices, deductions, disputes, and local requirements need separate review.
Prepare the same form for both visits
As a practical setup, use stable room and item names across the two records. “Bedroom 2 — closet door” is easier to match later than “door” in one report and “rear room woodwork” in another.
Check the template against the actual unit before handing it over. Cover supplied appliances and furniture as well as surfaces and fixtures. Mark an absent item accurately rather than leaving a row that looks unfinished. Keep a copy of the blank form used so the later visit can use the same structure.
- Identify the rental: address, unit, and the tenancy or occupancy being documented.
- Separate dates: possession, observation, document preparation, and return may occur on different days.
- Describe condition: location, visible finding, and relevant limitations.
- Reference evidence: link photographs to a room and item, keeping original files.
- Identify the author: record who made the observation and any later addition.
Keep the condition fields blank for the tenant’s actual observations; do not carry forward “Good” ratings from another tenancy. A previous report is a reference, not a substitute for checking the current unit.
Use the previous termination checklist as background
The request right described in the required notice concerns the last termination checklist, not a general request for every former resident’s file. Keep the request focused on the condition record.
Example request wording
“Please provide the last termination inventory checklist for [address and unit], showing the claims chargeable to the prior tenants, as referenced in MCL 554.608. I am preparing the commencement inventory checklist for my occupancy.”
Suggested wording only. Use the correct property details and keep a dated copy of your request.
When the earlier checklist arrives, match its findings to the current inspection. A scratch recorded previously may still exist, may have been repaired, or may be difficult to locate. Write down what you observe now and identify any uncertainty.
Keep the initial return deadline in view while waiting for a requested record. Do not assume a pending request extends it. If more information arrives later, preserve the initial submission and date any follow-up separately.
Worked example: separate three different condition records
The following fictional notes demonstrate an organizing method. They do not determine whether any charge is permitted. The columns are a comparison worksheet, not a substitute for the required forms.
| Item | Previous tenant’s termination record | Current tenant’s move-in record | Current tenant’s move-out record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedroom 2 / closet door | Small chip on lower edge noted. | Chip visible at the same location; overview and detail attached. | Chip still visible; no additional change observed at that edge. |
| Kitchen / drawer front | Split near handle noted. | Front appears replaced; no split visible. Repair history referenced separately. | Split visible beside handle; current photos attached for review. |
| Living room / carpet | Discoloration near window noted. | Window-side carpet inspected; no discoloration observed. | Window-side area blocked by stored boxes; condition not verified. |
What the comparison can—and cannot—tell you
The door entry carries an existing observation through the current tenancy. The drawer entry shows why a previous defect should not automatically be treated as continuously present: the starting record describes a different condition. The carpet entry remains unresolved because the final view was obstructed.
These records help identify questions to investigate. They do not, by themselves, establish cause, responsibility, repair cost, or a lawful deduction. Avoid converting “not recorded” into “did not exist,” especially when coverage or photo quality was limited.
Use a reference such as BED2-DOOR-01 for the item, and distinguish the evidence sets as prior termination, current move-in, and current move-out. Keep dates and authors visible so one tenancy’s photograph cannot be mistaken for another’s.
Review the termination checklist against the actual starting record
Before the final visit, retrieve the current tenancy’s completed starting checklist and any dated additions. Use the previous tenant’s termination record as supporting history where relevant, while keeping the current tenancy’s observations clearly identified.
- Match each room and item to the starting record.
- Describe the observed ending condition with its own date and photos.
- Identify intervening repairs or replacements from available records.
- Explain incomplete coverage rather than assigning an unsupported rating.
- Separate a condition difference from any proposed charge or cost assessment.
For the broader visit workflow, see the move-out inspection guide. For reviewing changes in context, see normal wear and tear versus tenant damage.
The termination inventory is a condition record. Do not assume it completes every separate security-deposit accounting or notice obligation. The Michigan Legislature’s landlord-tenant guide provides broader context.
Practical inventory-record checklist
Use this organizing aid with the statutory requirements above. You can print the page from your browser.
- Confirm the property, unit, and occupancy period on every record.
- Check the two-copy, form, coverage, and notice requirements.
- Record when possession was received and check the applicable return period.
- Keep one completed copy and a record of what was returned and when.
- If requesting the prior termination checklist, retain the request and received document separately.
- Record current observations even where older records already describe an issue.
- Keep room and item names consistent across the beginning and ending forms.
- Link each photo to its actual visit, date, and item.
- Preserve repair records and dated additions without overwriting the starting checklist.
- Review unresolved access or evidence gaps before drawing conclusions.
- Check separate accounting obligations if charges are being considered.
Questions about Michigan inventory records
Is this only an inventory of furniture?
No. The checklist covers condition of the rental and landlord-owned items, not just loose furnishings. Apply the coverage requirement above to the actual unit.
Should I copy the previous tenant’s damage list into my checklist?
Use it to guide your review, but describe what you can actually observe now. Identify a repaired item, a continuing defect, or an area you could not inspect instead of automatically repeating older entries.
What if the earlier checklist and current photos disagree?
Keep both records and identify the specific difference. Check dates, location, and any intervening work. Do not alter an original file to make the history appear consistent.
Does a new condition difference prove tenant responsibility?
No. A comparison identifies an observed difference. Responsibility and any proposed deduction require a separate review of the facts and applicable rules.
Does this guide provide a complete Michigan form?
No. The examples explain how to organize and compare records. Use the official notice and verify your complete form against the source requirements.
Do I need an inspection app?
No particular app is needed for the organizing examples. Documents and labeled photo folders can support the process. Software can help connect records, but does not determine compliance or responsibility.
Official sources and review date
Reviewed September 24, 2026.
- Michigan Compiled Laws § 554.608 — Inventory checklists: requirements for commencement and termination records, return timing, and the notice.
- Michigan Legislature: A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords: broader guidance and sample forms.
Check the official text when preparing a form. This page focuses on inspection documentation rather than the complete deposit process.
Looking for a way to organize move-in and move-out records? Explore Oryon Inspection.