Michigan’s Eviction Ban Comes to an End

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order that temporarily bans evictions ends Wednesday at midnight. Since March, landlords have not been able to evict tenants who don’t pay their rent, but on Thursday, those rules change. 

Karen Tjapkes is the director of litigation for the Legal Aid of Western Michigan. She represents tenants and agrees it’s essential the two sides work together.

“My overwhelming message would be patience because the program is very new, it’s still rolling out, and it may not be online in a substantial way before the first of August,” Tjapkes said.

Tjapkes says legally, rent won’t be forgiven from these past few months unless landlords and tenants made a separate agreement. Also, landlords can formally demand payment starting Thursday and give tenants seven days to pay or potentially go to court.

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