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Auburn Hills is a mid-size city in Oakland County, Michigan, home to roughly 25,000 residents and known for its mix of corporate headquarters, Oakland University, and growing residential developments. A significant share of Auburn Hills households rent, attracted by the city's proximity to the I-75 corridor, major employers like Stellantis, and relatively affordable Oakland County rents compared to neighboring communities.
Renters in Auburn Hills frequently search for information about how much a landlord can raise rent, what happens to their security deposit at move-out, and what steps a landlord must take before pursuing eviction. All of these questions are governed exclusively by Michigan state law — Auburn Hills has not enacted any local tenant protections beyond what the state provides. The core statutes are the Michigan Landlord-Tenant Relationships Act (M.C.L. §§ 554.601–554.641) and related provisions of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
This page summarizes the tenant rights that apply in Auburn Hills as of April 2026. It is intended as an educational resource only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and individual situations vary — consult a qualified attorney or free legal aid organization for advice about your specific circumstances.
Auburn Hills has no rent control, and no Michigan city or township does. Michigan state law explicitly preempts all local rent control ordinances under M.C.L. § 123.409, which has been in effect since 1988. The statute states that a local governmental unit shall not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property.
In practice, this means a landlord in Auburn Hills can raise your rent by any dollar amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with at least 30 days' written notice (M.C.L. § 554.134). There is no cap on the size of a rent increase, no required justification, and no local board that reviews rent hikes. Renters facing large rent increases have no legal mechanism to challenge the amount itself — only the adequacy of the notice given.
Because rent is completely unregulated, Auburn Hills tenants should carefully review lease renewal terms and negotiate before signing. If a landlord raises rent in retaliation for a tenant exercising a legal right — such as reporting a code violation — that increase may be challenged as retaliatory under Michigan common law, but that is a narrow protection unrelated to rent control.
Michigan law provides several important baseline protections that apply to every Auburn Hills renter regardless of what a lease says.
Security Deposits (M.C.L. §§ 554.602–554.616): Landlords may not collect a security deposit exceeding 1.5 times the monthly rent. Within 30 days of move-out, the landlord must provide an itemized written statement of any claimed deductions and return the remaining balance. A landlord who fails to comply with the statutory process — including providing an inventory checklist at move-in and proper written notice of the deposit's bank location — may forfeit the right to retain any portion of the deposit.
Habitability and Repairs (M.C.L. § 125.534; Michigan common law): Landlords must maintain rental units in a condition fit for human habitation, including working heat, plumbing, electrical systems, and structural integrity. If a landlord fails to make required repairs after receiving written notice, tenants may petition the court to pay rent into an escrow account under the rent escrow remedy (M.C.L. § 125.534), which can compel repairs. Tenants may also contact Auburn Hills or Oakland County code enforcement for an inspection.
Notice to Terminate (M.C.L. § 554.134): To end a month-to-month tenancy, the landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice, and that notice must be given within the same rental period in which it is intended to take effect. A fixed-term lease expires on its own at the end date without additional notice, unless it automatically converts to month-to-month.
Anti-Retaliation (Michigan common law): Michigan courts recognize retaliatory eviction as a valid defense. A landlord may not evict a tenant, raise rent, or reduce services in retaliation for reporting housing code violations, contacting a government agency, or exercising any legal right. If a landlord takes adverse action within a suspicious timeframe after protected activity, a court may infer retaliation.
Lockout Prohibition (M.C.L. § 600.2918): Self-help eviction is illegal in Michigan. A landlord who changes the locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or removes the tenant's belongings to force a departure without a court order may be liable for the tenant's actual damages plus attorney's fees. The only lawful way to remove a tenant in Auburn Hills is through the court eviction (summary proceedings) process.
Michigan's Security Deposit Act (M.C.L. §§ 554.602–554.616) governs security deposits for all Auburn Hills rentals and sets out specific requirements for both landlords and tenants.
Cap: The maximum security deposit a landlord may collect is 1.5 times the monthly rent. For example, on a unit renting for $1,200 per month, the deposit cannot exceed $1,800. This cap applies regardless of what the lease states.
Move-In Requirements: At or before move-in, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written inventory checklist of the unit's condition and a written notice stating the name and address of the financial institution where the deposit is held (M.C.L. § 554.609). Tenants should complete and return the checklist promptly — this document protects you at move-out.
Return Deadline: Within 30 days of the termination of the tenancy (move-out date), the landlord must send the tenant either (a) the full deposit, or (b) an itemized written statement of damages and deductions along with any remaining balance (M.C.L. § 554.613). The statement must be mailed to the tenant's last known forwarding address.
Failure to Comply: A landlord who does not send the itemized statement within 30 days forfeits the right to retain any portion of the deposit and cannot sue the tenant for damages (M.C.L. § 554.613). Tenants must provide a forwarding address in writing; failure to do so can limit the landlord's obligation.
Disputes: If a landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit, the tenant may sue in Michigan Small Claims Court (for amounts up to $6,500) or District Court. Courts may award the amount wrongfully withheld plus court costs.
In Auburn Hills, a landlord must follow Michigan's summary proceedings eviction process and cannot remove a tenant without a court order. The steps are governed by the Michigan Summary Proceedings Act (M.C.L. §§ 600.5701–600.5759) and related statutes.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with the appropriate written notice depending on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in District Court: If the tenant does not vacate or cure within the notice period, the landlord files a Complaint to Recover Possession of Property in the 52nd District Court (which serves Auburn Hills). The tenant will be served with a summons and scheduled for a hearing, typically within 10–14 days of filing.
Step 3 — Hearing: Both parties appear before the judge. Tenants may raise defenses including improper notice, retaliation, discriminatory eviction, or habitability issues. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it issues a Judgment for Possession.
Step 4 — Writ of Restitution: If the tenant does not vacate voluntarily after the judgment, the landlord may request a Writ of Restitution. A court officer — not the landlord — physically enforces the writ (M.C.L. § 600.5744).
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under M.C.L. § 600.2918, a landlord who locks out a tenant, removes belongings, or shuts off utilities to force a departure without a court order may owe the tenant actual damages and attorney's fees. If this happens to you, contact legal aid immediately.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Michigan does not require landlords to have a specific reason (just cause) to decline to renew a lease. At the end of a fixed-term lease, the landlord may simply choose not to renew with proper notice.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws in Michigan and Auburn Hills can change, and your specific situation may involve facts that affect how the law applies to you. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading this page. For advice about your particular circumstances, consult a licensed Michigan attorney or contact a free legal aid organization such as Michigan Legal Help (michiganlegalhelp.org). Always verify current statutes and local ordinances independently before taking action.
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