Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5739
Joinder of claims and counterclaims for money judgment; separate disposition of claim for possession; damages for labor expended by either landlord or tenant.
Operative Text
Sec. 5739. (1) Except as provided by court rules, a party to summary proceedings may join claims and counterclaims for money judgment for damages attributable to wrongful entry, detainer, or possession, for breach of the lease or contract under which the premises were held, or for waste or malicious destruction to the premises. The court may order separate summary disposition of the claim for possession, without prejudice to any other claims or counterclaims. A claim or counterclaim for money judgment shall not exceed the amount in controversy that otherwise limits the jurisdiction of the court. (2) If the court awards damages for physical injury to the premises under subsection (1) by making an award for or based on the cost of repairs, the court shall award damages for labor expended by a landlord or property manager in repairing the premises in the same manner as it would if the repairs were performed by a third party. A landlord's or property manager's labor under this subsection shall be compensated at a rate the court determines to be reasonable based on usual and customary charges for the repairs. (3) If the court determines that the landlord breached the lease or contract under which the premises were held by failing to repair the premises and awards damages under subsection (1) by making an award for or based on the cost of repairs, the court shall award damages for labor expended by the tenant in repairing the premises in the same manner as it would if the repairs were performed by a third party. A tenant's labor under this subsection shall be compensated at a rate the court determines to be reasonable based on usual and customary charges for the repairs.
Michigan MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5739 governs how money claims can be combined with possession disputes in summary (eviction-related) court proceedings. Either party may bring claims for damages—such as those arising from wrongful entry, lease breaches, or damage to the property—alongside the core possession case, though the court can resolve the possession question separately without affecting the remaining claims. Notably, when repair costs are at issue, the law allows courts to compensate both landlords and tenants for their own labor in making repairs, valued at the going rate for such work as if a third party had performed it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5739, property owners and managers who participate in summary proceedings can bring money claims for lease breaches, wrongful possession, or property damage in the same action rather than filing a separate lawsuit. When a landlord or property manager personally performs repairs to address tenant-caused damage, compliant operators document their time and the nature of the work so the court can assess compensation at a reasonable, market-rate value. Keeping detailed records of repair hours, the type of work performed, and comparable contractor rates in the area supports a well-substantiated damages claim under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 600.5701 et seq. § 600.5739 gives tenants the right to raise counterclaims for money damages—including claims that the landlord breached the lease by failing to make repairs—within the same summary proceeding rather than having to pursue a separate lawsuit. If a tenant performed repair work themselves because the landlord failed to do so, this provision allows a court to award compensation for that labor at a rate reflecting what a third-party contractor would typically charge. Tenants who believe they have counterclaims under this provision may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how to document and present such claims in court.
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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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