Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5785
Contested action to terminate tenancy; liquidated damages.
Operative Text
Sec. 5785. In every contested action to terminate a tenancy in a mobile home park for just cause, the court shall award liquidated damages to the prevailing party if a provision requiring liquidated damages is included in the lease or rental agreement governing the tenancy or rules or regulations adopted pursuant to the lease or rental agreement, as prescribed in section 28c of the mobile home commission act, Act No. 96 of the Public Acts of 1987, being section 125.2328c of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The liquidated damages shall not be construed to be a penalty.
Under MCL § 600.5785, when a tenancy in a Michigan mobile home park is contested in court and one party prevails, the court is required to award liquidated damages to the winning party—but only if the lease, rental agreement, or related rules and regulations contain a liquidated-damages clause that meets the standards set out in the Mobile Home Commission Act. The statute expressly states that these liquidated damages are not to be treated as a penalty. This rule applies specifically to 'just cause' termination disputes in mobile home parks, not to ordinary residential tenancies.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of Michigan mobile home parks who want the protections of MCL § 600.5785 should ensure that their leases, rental agreements, or park rules and regulations include a properly drafted liquidated-damages clause consistent with section 28c of the Mobile Home Commission Act (MCL § 125.2328c). Compliant operators typically review these documents before initiating any contested termination action, since the court's authority to award liquidated damages depends entirely on whether such a clause exists in the governing documents. Because the statute treats these damages as compensatory rather than punitive, the clause should reflect a reasonable estimate of actual harm rather than an arbitrary figure.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under MCL § 600.5785, a mobile home park tenant who prevails in a contested just-cause termination action is entitled to a court award of liquidated damages—provided the lease or park rules contain the required liquidated-damages provision. Tenants facing a termination action may want to review their lease and any park rules or regulations to determine whether such a clause exists and what amount it specifies. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services familiar with Michigan mobile home park law can help residents understand how this provision may apply to their circumstances.
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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