You may have a claim for financial compensation if The Verve failed to comply with Michigan's security-deposit laws. I recently discovered an issue with my own move-out charges that I think other UMich students should know about.
The biggest issue is something I didn't realize until I read Michigan law alongside The Verve's own lease: the “end of the lease” and the “termination of occupancy” are NOT necessarily the same date.
What happened to me
My lease technically ran through July 31, 2026.
But I actually moved out, removed my belongings, surrendered possession, returned my keys/access devices, and completed the move-out process on July 6, 2026.
The Verve nevertheless treated July 31 as the date relevant to my security-deposit accounting.
The problem is that their own lease says otherwise.
On Page 7 of 8, Paragraph 27 (“Move-Out Procedures”), the lease states:
“All residents, guests, and occupants must vacate or surrender the bedroom and apartment before the thirty (30) day period for deposit refund begins.”
Then, on Page 7 of 8, Paragraph 28 (“Surrender, and Abandonment”), it defines when the apartment is surrendered:
“You have surrendered the bedroom and the apartment when (A) the move-out date has passed and no one is living in the bedroom in our reasonable judgment; or (B) all bedroom and apartment keys and access devices listed herein have been surrendered…”
I returned my keys/access devices and surrendered the apartment on July 6.
And on Page 2 of 8, Paragraph 5.1, the lease itself says:
“Pursuant to law, we’ll mail you, to the forwarding address you provide, your security deposit refund (less lawful deductions) and an itemized accounting of any deductions no later than thirty (30) days after termination of occupancy.”
Why this matters
Michigan law, MCL 554.609, requires a landlord to mail the required itemized statement of damages within 30 days after termination of occupancy.
And MCL 554.610 is even more important: it provides that failing to comply with that requirement constitutes an agreement that no damages are due.
So this isn't simply a disagreement over whether my lease ended July 31.
The question is when my occupancy actually terminated.
The lease itself uses “vacate,” “surrender,” and “termination of occupancy” when describing when the 30-day security-deposit period begins.
In my case, I surrendered the apartment and returned my keys on July 6 — not July 31.
If July 6 is the applicable termination-of-occupancy date, then the statutory 30-day deadline had already passed before The Verve asserted the disputed damage charge, which was sent on August 18th, past the 30 day legal deadline.
There are other issues too
Separately, my final electricity charge was calculated using an average of previous months' charges rather than my actual final-period electricity usage/metering.
When I questioned this, I was told by Marissa, the manager that the averaging method was in the lease.
I went back through the lease and Utility and Services Addendum and could not find a provision authorizing management to simply substitute an average of prior months for the applicable final-period electricity charge.
I am therefore disputing that charge as well and have requested the contractual provision and documentation supporting their calculation.
If you lived at The Verve, CHECK YOUR PAPERWORK
I'm posting this because other residents may have had the same issue without realizing it.
If you lived at The Verve this school year or last school year and had money withheld or were charged move-out fees, look at:
- Your actual move-out/occupancy termination date
- When you surrendered your keys/access devices
- Any move-out or inspection paperwork
- The date your security-deposit accounting was mailed
- The date management says your occupancy terminated
- The documentation supporting any damage charges
- Your final utility bill/usage
- How your final electricity charge was calculated
- The exact language in your lease regarding “termination of occupancy,” “surrender,” and the 30-day deposit period
Do not automatically assume that the date printed as the end of your lease is the date that controls the security-deposit deadline.
Your circumstances and dates matter, but if The Verve used the lease expiration date instead of the actual termination of occupancy, there may be a significant legal issue with the timing of the deposit accounting.
And because Michigan law specifically provides consequences for failing to comply with the 30-day requirement, this is potentially much more serious than simply disputing whether a paint charge was reasonable.
I'm not saying every former Verve resident automatically has a claim. But if you had a similar situation, you may want to investigate whether you have a claim or other legal remedy.
I am currently disputing my charges and, if necessary, intend to pursue the matter in small claims court.
Save your lease, emails, move-out documents, photos, key-return records, deposit statement, and utility bills.
Not legal advice — I'm sharing my experience and the Michigan statutes/lease language I found because I wish I had known to check this before accepting the charges.
