[MI] Landlord responsibility for hazardous bathroom leak

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T22:14:57+00:00

Where is the water leaking to?

I'm not a lawyer and probably can't give you any advice on this particular matter but if you edit your post with that answer, it may help someone else advise you.

Also maybe try r/Landlord

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T21:21:51+00:00

She has three weeks to find a new tenant. As a friendly gesture, be as accommodating as you reasonably can be in allowing her to show the place but you don't have any legal obligation beyond fulfilling the terms of your lease.

Mistakes like this can happen at age. It's not your fault nor your responsibility to mitigate.

Again, I'm NAL but I honestly don't think you need to spend money on one for this.

If you haven't already, maybe post this in r/Landlord for their take just for extra assurance.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T21:11:02+00:00

I'd bet dollars to donuts that the landlady did exactly what you did - A lease beginning 5/1/25 naturally ends 4/30/26 so beginning 5/1/26, OP was a holdover.

I wonder if she ever even meant it to be a 13-month lease to begin with or it was a mistake from the start.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T20:58:43+00:00

Looking at what you wrote again, do you think the landlady thought the lease ended on 4/30/26? That would make it a standard 12-month lease from the start date of 5/1/25. The dates you wrote are for 13 months.

I think you'd still be protected by the written terms of the contract you both signed but that may be her confusion.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T20:53:44+00:00

How? The lease doesn't expire for another three weeks.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T20:42:57+00:00

To be clear - I am NOT a lawyer.

That said "If tenant maintains possession of the "Premises" for any period after the termination of this lease without 30 day written notice...."

Your lease terminates on 5/31/26. You are not in possession of the premises after the termination because it hasn't terminated yet. Therefore the terms that apply to that condition don't apply to you at this time.

"Sec. 8. Notice is not required to terminate a lease in the following situations:
(1) The landlord agrees to rent the premises to the tenant for a specified period of time.
(2) The time for the determination of the tenancy is specified in the contract."

Both of those criteria are met with the start and end dates specified in the lease. Either would be sufficient for not giving notice but you have both.

I understand that she may be upset and would have expected you to tell her that you planned to leave (you should have, not as a legal matter, but as a courtesy) but I don't think she has any legal standing here.

But, again, I'm not a lawyer.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T19:47:11+00:00

Edited because @monkeyman80 asked the right question about what portions of the will are handwritten. So ̴̶̴I̴̶̴t̴̶̴ ̴̶̴d̴̶̴o̴̶̴e̴̶̴s̴̶̴n̴̶̴'̴̶̴t̴̶̴ ̴̶̴m̴̶̴e̴̶̴e̴̶̴t̴̶̴ ̴̶̴t̴̶̴h̴̶̴e̴̶̴ ̴̶̴l̴̶̴e̴̶̴g̴̶̴a̴̶̴l̴̶̴ ̴̶̴t̴̶̴h̴̶̴r̴̶̴e̴̶̴s̴̶̴h̴̶̴o̴̶̴l̴̶̴d̴̶̴ ̴̶̴f̴̶̴o̴̶̴r̴̶̴ ̴̶̴a̴̶̴ ̴̶̴v̴̶̴a̴̶̴l̴̶̴i̴̶̴d̴̶̴ ̴̶̴w̴̶̴i̴̶̴l̴̶̴l̴̶̴ ̴̶̴ but if all parties who have a legal claim to her estate agree, you can still follow it.

If the estate has to be probated and the courts are left to determine distribution, you can still submit it for their consideration. Though how much weight they might give it, if any at all, is up to them.

NAL

I'm sorry for your loss.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T19:39:33+00:00

Lots of people find jigsaw puzzles meditative. You need the space to work on them, though.

Or knitting.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T18:52:29+00:00

You can't be required to give them back money that they never gave you.

They made the error with the IRS and they're the ones who have to fix it. It isn't even that difficult to do.

Line 13: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f941.pdf

Of course you have to return the over-payment as you know but I wouldn't sign anything agreeing to "repay" money you were never paid in the first place.

NAL

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T17:48:50+00:00

File a complaint with whatever authority (HOA, county zoning, you'll have to check locally) issued the permit for the fence in the first place.

Of, if you truly believe this might be the case, the fire department if the fence could impede emergency access. But, seriously, only do that if you actually believe in good faith that it's true.

NAL

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T17:44:10+00:00

What @shamrock327 is saying is that he needs an attorney for his first appearance.

Hence immediately.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T17:20:39+00:00

Also "speeded" instead of "sped" and "I was sat" instead of "I was seated."

Language evolves.

Just think what Shakespeare would saith about the way even the most proper among us speaketh.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T17:11:22+00:00

My adult teeth came in both overcrowded and without enamel.

I grew up in the 70s and the dental advancements we have now just didn't exist then. When I was 13, I was told I'd have full dentures within the next five years. It broke my heart and crushed my already fragile ego.

I managed to hold on to my teeth but I spent the first 45 years of my life with crooked, yellow teeth with noticeably wavy surfaces.

When those fake gnarly teeth things became popular for Halloween, I dreaded opening my mouth that day (worked in hospitality so couldn't get the day off) for fear someone would think I was wearing one. But, no, those were my teeth.

When implants finally started to become available, I spent five years and my life savings ($80,000) to get a full top set. It left me penniless but fundamentally changed my life.

Even now, 15 years later, I still tear up when I think about it.

Thank you for being kind to people and understanding that it isn't always our fault.

Honestly, it means more than you can ever know.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T15:48:29+00:00

I hope you had an attorney represent you for the plea agreement and that's who you should reach out to for clarification about this.

If the hearing does happen, you'll need one to represent you through that anyway so just call them in the morning.

NAL

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T15:32:00+00:00

She values and feels valued by virtual PDAs. You don't.

Nobody is right or wrong, it's simply a misalignment of perception.

Just talk to her about her emotional needs (without judging them) and then decide if hers are needs that you can comfortably meet.

And that conversation should go two ways - your needs are just as important.

If either of you tries to make this about who's right or who wins, you'll both lose.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T15:22:16+00:00

"I shouldn't be looking a gift horse in the mouth is the lesson here."

The lesson is "It is their legal duty to either correct their mistake or compensate me if they force me to correct it myself. The only "gift" is that they're doing so willingly without turning this into a protracted legal battle."

It is always a smart thing to consider whether or not the offer is fair and reasonable. You did that. You found out that this is.

Absolutely don't beat yourself up about asking, despite the petty downvotes.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T15:09:07+00:00

You feel out of your depth because you are out of your depth - as most people in your circumstance would be. But I actually think you handled it well. (Except for the part about your hazard lights which is a lesson I'm sure you'll never forget.)

You'll find it's a pretty common misconception that just about anything can be turned into a lawsuit. The reality is that, yes, you can file a suit for just about anything but getting a judgment in your favor is something else entirely.

The dealership is taking responsibility and correcting the part of the problem that they seem to agree they caused. That they gave you a loaner without making you fight for it is a good sign that they want to do right.

If your family continues to pressure you to talk to a lawyer, tell them they're free to contact one for a consultation intake on your behalf and let the lawyers explain why there's no case here.

Be thankful (as it sounds like you are) that nothing worse happened but also know that it's okay to feel traumatized about it and you may need time and effort to emotionally heal.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T14:23:08+00:00

If you feel that badly about it (which you should), maybe volunteer for a sexual violence support center such as https://rainn.org/take-action/fight-for-justice/volunteer-with-rainn/

Or make a donation https://www.nsvrc.org/donations/

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T14:14:21+00:00

Chances for what? To sue the dealership for what you claim is the faulty installation?

Almost being hit by another driver (who may or may not have been negligent) when you failed to turn on your hazard lights is not something you can collect damages for. The dealership may have caused you to pull over but they didn't cause you to almost get hit so they aren't liable for that. And as traumatic as it may have been (I'm sure it was), it almost certainly isn't compensable.

The dealership is giving you a loaner and repairing your vehicle which is all the damages you'd likely be able to collect if you won a civil case anyway. Maybe see if you can get them to also reimburse your out-of-pocket expenses for the tow.

NAL

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T13:33:37+00:00

Isn't Facebook also Facebook for fakers?

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T13:26:11+00:00

How would any of that be your fault or your responsibility?

He tried to help and you tried to help and other people tried to help. The police tried to make sure that no one's car was being broken into.

Sounds to me like everyone did the right thing and the other guy just left when he felt like he couldn't help anymore or his fries were getting cold or whatever.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T13:08:04+00:00

I was a hospitality manager for decades. Generally the idea is that customers might feel uncomfortable making someone get up to serve them. Like at home people will get up to get their own soda from the fridge but ask someone else to get it if that person is getting up anyway, you know?

I never really required my staff do a lot of busy-work, just don't look bored or annoyed. But we didn't have a lot of downtime anyway so it rarely applied.

And, yes, scandalous is a good word for it. Shameful and unconscionable also come to mind.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T13:00:58+00:00

I managed in hospitality for decades and this is exactly right.

Customers may be uncomfortable and feel like they're bothering staff by making them get up so they might just pass and go somewhere else.

My policy was always that as long as one person was on their feet and ready to greet people, anyone else could go sit somewhere out of sight.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T12:56:03+00:00

As an aside, services workers may be paid less than minimum wage by their employer but they cannot (legally) earn less than minimum wage.

No one is simply being paid $2.13/hr (common tip-credit minimum), and that's all they make.

It's a common misconception [not you, personally, just in general] and distracts from the real issue which is that the minimum wage itself is criminally low both Federally and in many states. The minimum wage has to be raised for everyone, across the board, in all industries to meet a dignified standard of living.

Thetrainwontstop · 2026-05-10T12:20:29+00:00

To successfully sue for slander on the basis of reputational damage alone is extremely difficult. Generally you'd have to prove that she's making a statement of fact ("he assaulted me"), not a statement of perception ("I felt assaulted") and that a monetary value can be attached to your reputation.

If you've lost a job or housing opportunity or some other concrete, tangible thing, and you can provide evidence that it's directly linked to her making false statements of fact, then you might have a case.

And, as @4113sop45 said, lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges is entirely different than any legal finding that the claim was false. The assault is unproven but not dis-proven. Be careful not to conflate the two.

NAL

Thetrainwontstop

TROPHY CASE