Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

MN renters need stronger protections, advocates tell House panel

Minnesota renters could be better protected from intrusive landlords, financially prohibitive security deposits, unreasonable cold and other emergencies, advocates told a House committee Thursday.

Tenant-aid groups explained gaps in Minnesota's renter laws to the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee, which expects to consider a package of renter-protection measures this year.

Minnesota law says rental housing must be kept in reasonable repair, a statute that is vague and outdated, advocates said.

In addition, renters can have a difficult time finding housing because of criminal records, low credit scores, low incomes and Section 8 housing vouchers — factors more likely to affect people of color.

Advocates also said some renters face complicated lease terms and that getting landlords to address critical livability issues can be financially prohibitive.

Minnesota does not limit security deposits, which can put housing out of reach for potential renters. Additionally, some landlords insert vague-sounding fees into leases, instead of raising rents, said Amaris Carrión, a housing attorney with HOME Line, a tenant-advocacy organization.

She also said Minnesota's privacy law — which requires landlords to give "reasonable" notice before entering a unit — is vague and has led to intrusive situations, such as property owners walking in on sleeping renters.

Larry McDonough, an attorney focused on renters' rights, said state law could better define emergency situations in which landlords must make repairs.

He also said a lot of renters who are facing crucial livability issues are forced to pay rent in full before defending their cases in court. Filing fees to get a judge to take emergency action can be cost prohibitive, he added.

Lawmakers said they also want to focus this session on the estimated 80,000 renting households who could face eviction once the statewide ban is lifted.

Rep. Tama Theis (R-St. Cloud) said she wished the hearing would have included testimony from landlords, adding that she doesn't think there is enough focus on building relationships between them and their tenants.

Theis, a landlord herself, said she tries to be respectful of tenant privacy and that landlords want to avoid evictions, too. She added that landlords haven't been doing as well as hoped during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Related Articles


Priority Dailies

House passes tax package that includes rebate checks, $1 billion in new revenues
Rep. Aisha Gomez and House Majority Leader Jamie Long talk during a break in the May 20 debate on HF1938, the tax finance and policy bill. (Photo by Catherine Davis) Is it the largest tax cut in Minnesota history? Or the biggest tax hike the state has ever experienced? Could it be both? That’s the crux of the debate about the conference ...
House passes finalized cannabis legalization bill, sends it to Senate
A supporter of cannabis legalization demonstrates in front of the Capitol in 2021. The House repassed a bill to legalize recreational cannabis, as amended in conference committee, May 18 and sent HF100 to the Senate. (House Photography file photo) The House gave the green light to adult-use recreational cannabis Thursday. “The day has finally arrived. Today is the day that we are going to vote here in the House for th...

Minnesota House on Twitter