If you’re looking for cheap renters insurance in Michigan, consider looking at quotes from Meemic, Cincinnati and Frankenmuth Mutual. In Forbes Advisor’s analysis, these companies offer the cheapest renters insurance in Michigan for a typical coverage amount of $15,000, among the companies we analyzed.
Here are average Michigan renters insurance costs for three levels of coverage.
Average Michigan Renters Insurance Costs
| Company | Average annual cost for $15,000 in personal property coverage | Average annual cost for $30,000 in personal property coverage | Average annual cost for $50,000 in personal property coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Meemic
|
$71
|
$119
|
$161
|
|
Cincinnati
|
$87
|
$155
|
$241
|
|
Frankenmuth Mutual
|
$107
|
$124
|
$156
|
|
$145
|
$241
|
$373
|
|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$150
|
$195
|
$257
|
|
$167
|
$218
|
$267
|
|
|
$170
|
$237
|
$319
|
|
|
Pioneer State Mutual
|
$176
|
$207
|
$274
|
|
Westfield
|
$177
|
$214
|
$263
|
|
Wolverine Mutual
|
$180
|
$279
|
$419
|
|
Grange Mutual
|
$205
|
$260
|
$334
|
|
State average
|
$149
|
$205
|
$279
|
More: Best renters insurance
What Does Renters Insurance Cover?
Renters insurance can help pay for stolen belongings, injury lawsuits and even lodging, under certain circumstances. Here are the three main types of renters insurance coverage that work together to protect you and your possessions. If you’re eligible for a claim, your insurance company would pay out up to the limits specified in your policy.
- Personal property covers your personal items such as electronics, furniture, rugs and jewelry if damaged by an event listed in your policy, or if stolen.
- Liability insurance covers injuries and property damage you accidentally cause to others. For example, if a guest gets hurt while visiting your apartment, your liability insurance covers legal costs if you are sued. Or, let’s say an errant snowball you threw broke the neighbor’s window glass, your liability can also help pay to fix it. It’s a good idea to have enough liability insurance to cover what can be taken from you in a lawsuit.
- Additional living expenses (ALE) would cover the costs of restaurant meals and hotel stays if your apartment rental home is damaged by a problem covered by your policy and you are unable to live there while it’s being repaired. For instance, if your home had water damage from a burst pipe, and you had to temporarily live elsewhere, your coverage would help pay for living expenses.
Your renters insurance comes with liability coverage, but if that’s not adequate, you might want to consider an umbrella insurance policy. This extra protection can help pay for expenses that exceed your liability limits, for instance, if you are sued by a guest who was hurt while visiting your apartment.
Compare Renters Insurance Quotes
1
Lemonade
$160
28 states + DC
Related: Best renters insurance
When Can You Be Evicted in Michigan?
Under Michigan law, there are nine possible reasons to evict a tenant:
- Failure to pay rent
- Extensive and continuing physical damage to the rental unit
- A serious and continuing health hazard
- Illegal drug activities with a filed police report
- Violation of a lease provision
- Forceful or peaceful entry, but forceful stay or trespassing
- Remaining in the apartment when the lease has expired
- Just cause (as defined by statute MCL 600.5775) for terminating a leasing agreement when you live in a mobile home park
- Just cause (as defined by statute MCL 125.694a and MCL 600.5714) for terminating a lease when you live in government-subsidized housing
An eviction notice from a landlord must state that the landlord plans to evict you within seven days or 30 days (depending upon the reason for eviction). The eviction notice may give you time to correct the problem such as paying rent that is due.
A seven-day eviction notice is required for:
- Failure to pay rent
- Extensive and continuing physical damage to the rental unit
- A serious and continuing health hazard
- Illegal drug activities with a police report filed
A 30-day eviction notice is required for:
- Violation of a lease provision
- Forceful or peaceful entry, but forceful stay or trespass
- Remaining in the apartment when the lease has expired
An eviction notice must be delivered to you in person, to a member of your household in the rental unit or by first class mail. If the notice is delivered personally, the time begins the following day. If the notice is mailed, the time begins the following day after delivery (not including Sunday or holidays).
After the seven-day or 30-day time period has passed, your landlord may file a lawsuit for eviction against you. This complaint explains why your landlord wants to take back possession of your rental unit. You will be sent a summons to appear at the district court. The time period to appear and answer the summons is generally three to 10 days.
If your landlord wins the lawsuit, the court may not issue an order of eviction for at least 10 days. During this time you may try to work things out with your landlord such as paying back rent. After those 10 days are up, your landlord may request that a judge issue an order of eviction.
An officer of the court by the judge’s order may remove you and your property from the rental unit. This officer is usually the sheriff or someone who works in the sheriff’s office.
Rules on Security Deposits in Michigan
In Michigan, the security deposit may not be more than 1.5 times the monthly rent. For example, if your monthly rent is $1,000, your security deposit cannot be more than $1,500 ($1,000 x 1.5 = $1,500).
A landlord must place your security deposit in a financial institution such as a bank or deposit a cash bond or a surety bond with the security deposit.
At the end of your lease, you must provide your landlord with your forwarding address within four days of moving out. If you do so, your landlord has 30 days to respond. Your landlord may return the full security deposit by check or money order or send an itemized list of damages in the apartment with a check or money order for the remaining amount of the security deposit minus the damages.
If you dispute the itemized list of damages, you must respond in detailed writing by mail within seven days of receiving the list. Your landlord may negotiate an agreement with you in writing or your landlord may wish to take the matter to court. A landlord must file a lawsuit within 45 days of your leaving the apartment at the end of the lease. If the landlord does not file a lawsuit, the landlord may be liable to you, the tenant, for double the amount of the security deposit.
Rules on Rent Increases in Michigan
Generally, your landlord cannot increase your rent during the terms of your lease without your written consent. Your lease may have provisions for rent increases during the term to cover additional costs such as increases in property taxes, utilities and insurance premiums.
If you have a periodic or tenancy at will, for instance you rent month-by-month, a landlord can raise your rent with proper notice.
When Can A Landlord Enter Your Apartment?
While Michigican has no specific statute regarding when a landlord can enter an apartment, you do have a right to privacy in your rental in Michigan. Generally, your landlord should give you prior notice to enter your apartment. A landlord can access your apartment to:
- Do repairs
- Show the apartment to prospective renters
- Permit inspections by the city
In emergency situations, a landlord can enter an apartment without prior notice.
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