Guide
Biohazard cleanup for landlords and property managers
A death or a violent incident in a unit means police, family, neighbors and a room no one should enter. This guide covers the order of things and the questions to settle.
Your obligations
Under MCL 554.139, every Michigan residential lease includes the landlord's promise that the premises and common areas are fit for their intended use, kept in reasonable repair, and in line with state and local health and safety laws.
A unit with blood, decomposition or heavy biohazards is not fit to re-rent until it is cleaned. Common areas such as hallways and stairs may also need attention.
The order of things
- Wait until police and the medical examiner release the unit.
- Talk to the family or estate about belongings before anything is removed.
- Call your property insurer and note the claim number.
- Have the unit assessed and cleaned, with a written scope and itemized invoice.
- Check neighboring units and shared ventilation if odor spread.
Tenant belongings
Michigan has rules about property left behind by a tenant, and the estate may have rights to it. Get advice before disposing of belongings that were not contaminated. A cleanup company can separate items it can clean from items it cannot.
When a crime happened in the unit
Michigan's Crime Victim Compensation program, run by the Crime Victim Services Commission within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, lists crime scene cleanup inside the home or vehicle where the crime happened among the costs it may cover. The statute allows it once the investigating police agency has permitted the cleanup (MCL 18.361).
The program pays eligible victims and claimants, such as a tenant or a tenant's family, not the property owner. Your own insurance is the usual route for the owner.
Whenever you are ready
One call to find out what the cleanup involves
Nothing has to be decided tonight. Keep the room closed, keep children and pets out, and call when you want to hear the options from someone who does this work.
Speak with a cleanup company
Your call goes to an independent company that works in your ZIP code. Describe what happened, ask how they would handle it and how they set the price, then decide in your own time.
Call (616) 616-9979Phones answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded for quality. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.