Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances Ch. 20 Art. V Landlord-Tenant Code §§ 20-88 – 20-164 § 20-95
Disclosure
Operative Text
(a) On each written rental agreement, the lessor shall prominently disclose: (1) The names and usual addresses of all persons who are owners of the dwelling unit or the property of which the dwelling unit is a part; and (2) The names and usual addresses of all persons who are landlords of the dwelling unit. (b) In the case of an oral agreement, the lessor shall, on demand, furnish the tenant with a written statement containing the information required by subsection (a). (c) Any owner or landlord not dealing with the tenant as a lessor shall be responsible for compliance with this section by the lessor, and shall be estopped from any objection to a failure to serve process upon him in any proceeding arising under this article when such failure is due to failure to comply with this section. (Ord. of 6-9- 77, § 1.08)
Section 20-95 of the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code requires that written rental agreements prominently identify the names and addresses of all property owners and all landlords associated with the dwelling unit. When a rental arrangement is made verbally rather than in writing, the lessor must provide this same identifying information in written form if the tenant requests it. Owners or landlords who are not directly acting as the lessor remain responsible for ensuring this disclosure happens, and they lose certain legal protections—including the ability to challenge service of process—if the disclosure requirement is not met.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-95 of the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code, compliant operators include the full legal names and usual addresses of every owner and every landlord on each written lease agreement, displayed prominently rather than buried in fine print. When a tenancy is established through an oral agreement, a written disclosure statement containing this same information is prepared and provided to the tenant upon request. Owners who are not directly serving as the lessor still bear responsibility for ensuring the lessor fulfills this obligation, and failing to do so can result in the loss of procedural protections in any legal proceedings brought under the article.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-95 of the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code gives tenants the right to know the names and addresses of all owners and landlords connected to their dwelling unit, either through a written lease or, in the case of an oral agreement, through a written statement provided on demand. If this disclosure was not made, that failure can have legal consequences for the owner or landlord, including being barred from objecting to how legal process was served in proceedings under the Landlord-Tenant Code. Tenants who believe this provision has not been followed may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand what options may be available to them.
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.
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