Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances Ch. 20 Art. V Landlord-Tenant Code §§ 20-88 – 20-164 § 20-96
Effect of unsigned rental agreement
Operative Text
(a) If the landlord does not sign a written rental agreement which has been signed and tendered to him by the tenant, acceptance of rent without reservation by the landlord shall give to the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed by the landlord. (b) If the tenant does not sign a written rental agreement which has been signed and tendered to him by the landlord, acceptance of possession and payment of rent without reservation shall give to the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed by the tenant. (c) Where the rental agreement which is given effect by the operation of this section provides by its terms for a term longer than one year, it shall operate to created only a one-year term. (Ord. of 6-9-77, § 3.01)
Under Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances § 20-96, a written rental agreement can become legally binding even without a formal signature from one of the parties. If a landlord accepts rent without reservation after receiving a tenant-signed agreement, or if a tenant takes possession and pays rent without reservation after receiving a landlord-signed agreement, the unsigned party is treated as having signed. However, if the agreement specifies a term longer than one year, § 20-96(c) limits its enforced duration to one year under these circumstances.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-96, property owners and managers should be aware that accepting rent payments without reservation after receiving a tenant-signed agreement can bind them to that agreement's terms as fully as a countersignature would. Compliant operators typically review any tendered rental agreement carefully before accepting payment, ensuring they either formally sign or formally reject the document to avoid unintended contractual obligations. Because § 20-96(c) caps any resulting tenancy at one year when the agreement specifies a longer term, operators managing multi-year leases should confirm mutual signatures are obtained before rent is collected.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-96 of the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code provides tenants with meaningful protections when a landlord has not formally countersigned a written agreement. If a landlord accepts rent without reservation after a tenant has submitted a signed agreement, that agreement generally carries the same legal weight as a fully executed document. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service, and may be able to raise the effect of § 20-96 as a relevant factor in any dispute over the terms or existence of their rental agreement.
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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