Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances Ch. 20 Art. V Landlord-Tenant Code §§ 20-88 – 20-164 § 20-125
Tenant’s responsibility to inform landlord
Operative Text
(a) Any defective condition of the premises which comes to the tenant’s attention, which has reason to believe is the duty of the landlord or of another tenant to repair, shall be reported by the tenant to the landlord as soon as practicable. (b) The tenant shall be responsible for any liability or injury resulting to the landlord as a result of the tenant’s failure to carry out the duty imposed by subsection (a). (Ord. of 6-9-77, §§ 6.05, 6.06)
Section 20-125 of the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code establishes a reporting obligation for tenants: when a tenant becomes aware of a defective condition on the premises that they have reason to believe is the landlord's (or another tenant's) responsibility to fix, that defect must be reported to the landlord as soon as practicable. If a tenant fails to make this report and the landlord suffers liability or injury as a result, the tenant can be held responsible for those consequences. The rule creates a two-way accountability structure in which timely communication is central to the landlord-tenant relationship.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-125 of the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code, compliant property operators generally maintain clear, accessible channels through which tenants can report defects—such as a written maintenance request process or a dedicated contact number. Documenting the date and nature of any defect report a tenant submits helps establish the timeline of notice and supports the landlord's ability to respond promptly. When a tenant does not report a known defect and harm results, § 20-125 provides that the tenant may bear responsibility for resulting liability or injury to the landlord.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-125 of the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code places an affirmative duty on tenants to report defective conditions they believe are the landlord's or another tenant's responsibility to repair, and to do so as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the problem. Tenants who fulfill this duty generally protect themselves from being held liable for any harm the landlord suffers due to an unreported defect. Tenants with questions about what qualifies as a reportable defect or how this duty interacts with other rights under Ch. 20 Art. V may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Benton Harbor ordinances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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