1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to landlord and
tenant; modifying requirements for a written lease; requiring
1.3 disclosure of additional
landlord contact information; prohibiting landlords from
1.4 listing the name of a minor
child of a tenant in a lease or eviction complaint;
1.5 establishing a right of a
prospective tenant to view the rental unit; establishing
1.6 additional tenant remedies
and penalties against landlords;amending Minnesota
1.7 Statutes 2024, sections
504B.111; 504B.181, subdivision 1; proposing coding for
1.8 new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 504B.
1.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.10 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes
2024, section 504B.111, is amended to read:
1.11 504B.111 WRITTEN LEASE REQUIRED;
PENALTY.
1.12 (a) A landlord must
include in any written lease all the terms of the tenancy. A landlord
1.13 may not unilaterally
amend or change a written lease. The written lease must identify the
1.14 specific unit the
residential tenant will occupy before the residential tenant signs the lease.
1.15 Notwithstanding any
other state law or city ordinance to the contrary, a landlord may ask
1.16 for the tenant's full
name and date of birth on the lease and application. A landlord and
1.17 tenant may agree to
amend a lease only if the amendment is supported by adequate
1.18 consideration and the
consideration is specifically set forth in a conspicuous writing. A
1.19 landlord may offer a new
lease to be effective after expiration of the current lease with terms
1.20 different from the
current lease.
1.21 (b) A landlord of a
residential building with 12 or more residential units must have a
1.22 written lease for each unit
rented to a residential tenant. The written lease must identify the
1.23 specific unit the
residential tenant will occupy before the residential tenant signs the lease.
1.24 Notwithstanding any
other state law or city ordinance to the contrary, a landlord may ask
2.1 for the tenant's full
name and date of birth on the lease and application. A landlord who fails
2.2 to provide a lease, as
required under this section, is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
2.3 (c) The tenant shall
recover from the landlord treble actual and consequential damages
2.4 or $500, whichever is
greater, and reasonable attorney fees, for a violation of this section.
2.5 EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to leases
2.6 entered into, renewed,
or extended on or after that date. For the purposes of this section,
2.7 estates at will shall
be deemed to be renewed or extended at the commencement of each
2.8 rental period.
2.9 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes
2024, section 504B.181, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.10 Subdivision 1.Disclosure
to tenant. (a) There shall be disclosed to the residential tenant
2.11 either in the rental agreement
or otherwise in writing prior to commencement of the tenancy
2.12 the name and,
occupied street address within 50 miles of the dwelling, phone number, and
2.13 email address of:
2.14 (1) the owner of the
premises;
2.15 (1) (2) the
person authorized to manage the premises; and
2.16 (2) (3) the
landlord of the premises or and an agent authorized by the
landlord to accept
2.17 service of process and receive
and give receipt for notices and demands.
2.18 (b) An occupied street
address does not include post office boxes and commercial mail
2.19 boxes. The phone number
and email address shall be normally answerable 24 hours a day,
2.20 seven days a week, not
subject to normal business hours. The persons designated shall
2.21 respond to inquiries
from tenants within a reasonable period of time.
2.22 EFFECTIVE DATE. This
section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to leases
2.23 entered into, renewed,
or extended on or after that date. For the purposes of this section,
2.24 estates at will shall be
deemed to be renewed or extended at the commencement of each
2.25 rental period.
2.26 Sec. 3. [504B.2136]
LISTING OF MINORS AS LEASE PARTIES OR DEFENDANTS
2.27 PROHIBITED.
2.28 (a) A residential
lease shall not list a minor child of a residential tenant as a tenant. If a
2.29 minor is the only person
renting the unit from the landlord, the lease may list the minor as
2.30 a tenant.
3.1 (b) A residential
landlord shall not list a minor child of a residential tenant as a defendant
3.2 in an eviction action
complaint against the residential tenant. If a minor is the only person
3.3 renting the unit from
the landlord, the landlord may list the minor as a defendant in an
3.4 eviction action
complaint against the minor.
3.5 (c) The requirements
of this section may not be waived or modified by the parties to a
3.6 residential lease. Any
provision, whether oral or written, of a lease or other agreement by
3.7 which any provision of
this section is waived by a tenant is contrary to public policy and
3.8 void. The tenant shall
recover from the landlord treble actual and consequential damages
3.9 or $1,000, whichever
is greater, and reasonable attorney fees, for a violation of this section.
3.10 EFFECTIVE DATE. This
section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to leases
3.11 entered into, renewed,
or extended on or after that date. For the purposes of this section,
3.12 estates at will shall be
deemed to be renewed or extended at the commencement of each
3.13 rental period.
3.14 Sec. 4. [504B.2143]
PROSPECTIVE TENANT RIGHT TO VIEW DWELLING.
3.15 The landlord must
notify a prospective tenant of their option to view the dwelling that
3.16 the landlord intends to
rent to the tenant. At the request of the prospective tenant, the landlord
3.17 shall allow the
prospective tenant to visit the dwelling before leasing the dwelling to the
3.18 prospective tenant. If
the prospective tenant cannot visit the dwelling in person, at the request
3.19 of the prospective
tenant, the landlord shall allow the prospective tenant to remotely and
3.20 electronically view the
dwelling before leasing the dwelling to the prospective tenant. Any
3.21 agreement by which any
provision of this section is waived by a tenant is contrary to public
3.22 policy and void. The
tenant shall recover from the landlord treble actual and consequential
3.23 damages or $1,000,
whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney fees, for a violation of
3.24 this section.
