IMPORTANT: The Condominium Act does not give the Department of Labor & Economic Growth the authority to enforce or regulate any provisions within the Act or the condominium by-laws.  Although DLEG is designated as the administrator in the Act, the Legislature repealed the Department's regulatory and enforcement responsibilities in 1983. 

What is the role of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG)?

The role of the Office of Policy & Legislative Affairs within DLEG includes: the creation of the Condominium Buyer's Handbook to be distributed by developers to potential buyers, the distribution of copies of the Act and Administrative Rules when requested, and the Condominium web site for additional resources, information and assitance.

I.  Questions From Condominium Owners

How do I get a copy of my financial statements/audits?

Section 54 of the Act states that the bylaws must contain provisions requiring the association or management company to keep books and records with a detailed account of the expenditures and receipts affecting the condominium development and specify the operating expenses. 

Section 54, also states that the association of co-owners must give each owner a financial statement once a year.

Section 57 of the Act provides that all books and records concerning the administration and operation of the condominium project shall be audited or reviewed by independent accountants annually.  Such audits need not be certified.  The books, records, and contracts concerning the administration and operation of the condominium project shall be available for examination by any of the co-owners at convenient times.

How do I file a complaint against my Condominium Association?

DLEG has no authority to take complaints or enforce any requirements of the Condominium Act in regard to the actions of condominium associations.  The bylaws for each condominium development provide legal requirements for association actions.  The bylaws must contain procedures for arbitration of disputes between a co-owner and an association.  Only a court can order an association to comply with the Act, administrative rules and bylaws.

Section 107 of the Act gives a co-owner authority to take action in circuit court against the association of co-owners and its officers and directors to compel them to enforce the provisions of the condominium documents or the Act itself.  The condominium documents are comprised of the master deed and association bylaws.  Your bylaws must have provisions for disputes between a co-owner and the association.

How do I file a complaint against a developer?

If this office receives a complaint regarding a condominium developer, it forwards that complaint to the developer and sends a Notice of Available Remedies Under the Condominium Act to both the complainant and the developer.  This office has no authority to investigate a complaint further or take any enforcement action concerning any condominium project.

II.  Questions from Developers

How do I get copies of the Condominium Buyer's Handbook

The developer must provide a prospective purchaser with a copy of the Condominium Buyer's Handbook, as required in Section 84a of the Act.  The Handbook may be downloaded from the DLEG web page at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CONDO_BUYER_HANDBOOK_2005_158892_7.doc.

What are the requirements for notifying State & Local Governments of an intent to develop a condominium project?

Section 71 of the Act requires notification to the following state and local governments:

1.   The appropriate city, village, township or county.  Contact the local government where the development is located to determine who to notify and what information they request.  If the township does not administer its own zoning ordinance, the county may administer it.

2.  The appropriate county road commission and county drain commission.  Contact the county where the development is located to determine what information they request.

3.  The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality at. 

Richard Falardeau, P.E.

Drinking Water & Environmental Health Section, Water Bureau

P.O. Box 30273

Lansing, MI 48909-7773

(517) 241-1345

If any portion of your condominium development impacts: a regulated floodplain, wetland, lake, stream or dam; or high-risk erosion, critical dune, or designated environmental area, a permit from the Land and Water Management Division is required.  A permit application and appendices can be downloaded from the Division's home page at http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_29692_24403---,00.html.  The Division's telephone number is (517) 373-9244.

6.  The Michigan Department of Transportation.   Include a location map indicating the site and abutting state trunk lines and mail to:

Michigan Department of Transportation

Bureau of Highway Operations, Design Division

P. O. Box 30050

Lansing, MI 48909

What is a conversion condominium?

Section 71 notification requirements also apply to conversion condominiums.  For conversion condominiums where detailed architectural plans and specifications are not available, the developer must file an affidavit stating that fact with the local unit of government.

Section 84a(e) lists additional information the developer must supply to a purchaser if a project is a conversion condominium.

Sections 104 and 104a thought 104e explain the obligations of the developer to notify tenants and explain the rights of tenants.  Tenants have the right to remain in the unit a minimum of 120 days or until expiration of the term of the lease, whichever is longer.  The tenancy of a person who is 65 years of age or older, or paraplegic, quadriplegic, hemiplegic, or blind shall not be terminated without cause within 1 year of notice.  A person with disabilities has 60 days after receiving notice to enter into an extended lease arrangement.  Under an extended lease arrangement the tenant may renew a lease year to year for 4 years.

What is a business condominium?

A business condominium unit is defined as a condominium unit that has a sales price of more than $250,000 and is intended to be used for other than residential or recreational purposes.

Purchase agreements for business condominiums are binding.  Purchasers do not have the option to withdraw from a signed purchase agreement for a business condominium unit within 9 business days.

Section 84a of the Act does not apply to business condominiums.  The developer is not required to provide prospective purchasers with the Condominium Buyer's Handbook and other items listed in Section 84a.

For a conversion of a business condominium, Section 104(2) requires the developer to notify each tenant of the conversion and provides the tenant with the right to terminate tenancy upon 60 days' notice to the developer.  The developer may not terminate tenancy without cause within 120 days after delivery of notice, or until expiration of the term of the lease, whichever is longer.

III.  Questions from Condominium Associations

What are the requirements of a condominium association?

The Act requires the association of co-owners to keep current copies of the master deed, all amendments to the master deed, and other condominium documents available for review by co-owners, prospective purchasers, and prospective mortgagees.

The association is required to maintain a reserve fund for major repairs and replacement of common elements.  Rule 511 states that the reserve fund must be at a minimum equal to 10% of the association's current annual budget on a noncumulative basis.

Does an association have to become incorporated?

Associations are not required by law to incorporate, but many are incorporated as nonprofit corporations.  If an association wishes to incorporate, they may do so by contacting the Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Corporation Division at (517)241-6470. 

Rule 501 states that if the association is a corporation, the corporation's bylaws are separate from the condominium bylaws.

How do we amend our association bylaws?

If you wish to initiate the procedure to amend your bylaws see Section 90 and 91 of the Act.  They describe the limitations and procedure for adopting amendments.  The condominium documents may be amended without the consent of co-owners or mortgagees if the amendment does not materially alter or change the right of a co-owner or mortgagee, and if the condominium documents contain a reservation of the right to amend for that purpose.

What is the procedure for collecting past due assessments from tenants?

Section 112(5) of the Act provides a procedure for the association of co-owners to collect assessments directly from the tenant, in lieu of the tenant making rental payments to the co-owner.  When a co-owner is in arrearage to the association, the association may give written notice of the arrearage to a tenant occupying a co-owner's condominium.  The tenant shall deduct from rental payments due the co-owner the arrearage and future assessments as they fall due and pay them to the association.  The deduction does not constitute a breach of the rental agreement or lease.  If the tenant, after being notified, fails to remit rent due the co-owner to the association, the association can take further action as described in Section 112.