Landlord/Tenant

Overview
The landlord tenant division is responsible for handling all real property disputes up to $25,000. Real property is considered land, and generally whatever is built on, growing on, or affixed to that land. Most commonly, the landlord tenant division handles cases involving non-payment of rent, termination of tenancy, land-contract forfeitures, and evictions after the redemption period  on a mortgage foreclosure. 

There are different reasons that a landlord may wish to evict a tenant. The grounds that a landlord may cite are:

A landlord must specify the grounds to evict. The grounds a landlord may cite to evict a tenant are the following:

  1. Nonpayment of rent;
  2. Extensive and continuing physical injury to property;
  3. Serious and continuing health hazard;
  4. Illegal drug activity and formal police report filed (lease provisions must allow for termination on these grounds);
  5. Violation of a lease provision and the lease allows for termination;
  6. Forceful entry or peaceful try, but forceful stay or trespass;
  7. Holding over after natural expiration of lease term;
  8. Assault of a landlord;
  9. Just cause for terminating tenant of mobile home park (MCL 600.5775); and
  10. Just cause for terminating tenant of government-subsidized housing (MCL 125.694a and 600.5714).   

*Properties that are considered Corporations or Limited Liability Corporations must be  represented by an attorney.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO FILE A COMPLAINT IN DISTRICT COURT:
There is a fee for filing a complaint against a tenant who has not paid rent. The cost to file a complaint with the district court is $45.00, plus there is an electronic filing system fee of $10 (complaint for possession only or money damages only) or $20 (combined complaint for possession and money damages). If you are seeking money damages, you must pay an additional filing fee as follows:
$25 for damage claims up to $600
$45 for damage claims from $600 to $1,750
$65 for damage claims over $1,750 to $10,000
$150 for damage claims over $10,000 to $25,000

The plaintiff (landlord) is responsible for paying the filing fee and other fees. If the judge rules in favor of the plaintiff, these fees may be added to the judgment amount against the defendant. 


ADVICE OF RIGHTS and RENTAL/HOUSING ASSISTANCE INFORMATION

Individuals authorized to seize property and conduct evictions in Barry County:

                       Appointed Court Officers:                                                                         Barry County Special Deputy Sheriff:
Kurt Orosz                                               Amber Jansens                                                           Mark Sheldon
P.O. Box 140822                                      P.O. Box 197                                                                  1212 W. State Street  
Grand Rapids, MI 49514                       Caledonia, MI 49316                                                    Hastings, MI 49058
(616) 890-8078                                        269-953-2292                                                               269-838-2119



Quick Links to Rental and Housing Assistance: