The law in plain English
Return deadline
Under Mich. Comp. Laws Sections 554.602 to 554.616, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 30 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.
Required notice
Michigan generally requires the landlord to mail an itemized damage list within 30 days, and the tenant should preserve proof of the forwarding address used.
This dispute type
Once the Michigan deadline passes, the dispute stops being only about the deductions and becomes a deadline-compliance problem too. A landlord may still argue damage existed, but Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602 to 554.616 sets the clock for returning the balance and explaining any amount withheld.
Penalty leverage
If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: You can recover double the amount of the deposit retained, plus attorney's fees and court costs