A few items to be aware if you are a Landlord in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Legislature has just passed a number of new laws that you need to be aware of that impacts your rental property and responsibilities to tenants. Due to the current political standing in the legislature, these laws could be said to be more favorable to tenants, thus, landlords need to be aware to avoid issues. Starting January 1, 2024, these laws include:

• A longer notice period before you can evict a tenant for non-payment of rent. Under the new law, you will need to give a tenant 14 days' written notice before you can file an eviction lawsuit. This will give tenants more time to pay their rent, and could delay the time for you to initiate an eviction if not aware of this requirement. The notice will include a copy of the summons and complaint for eviction and proof will be required by the court that the notice has been properly made.
• A ban on publicly reporting eviction records until the case is final. This could, potentially, make it more difficult for you to screen tenants that had legitimate eviction issues.
• A requirement that you disclose all non-optional fees on the front page of the lease and in any advertisements. Hopefully, this new law will give tenants a better understanding of the true cost of renting from you and, hopefully, avoid disputes that lead to eviction or litigation.
• A requirement that you maintain a minimum temperature of 68 degrees in your rental units between October 1 and April 30. For old buildings, please note that this may be more of a challenge for you to keep your rental units at a consistent compliant temperature when rented during the winter months so should be addressed accordingly.
• A requirement that you give 24 hours' notice before entering a tenant's unit (unless it is an emergency).
• A requirement that you fix emergency repairs within 24 hours for certain matters. 
• A reduction in court fees for emergency rental housing cases. 
• A right for tenants to end their lease early for medical reasons. 
• A right for tenants in public housing to have free representation in breach-of-lease eviction cases. 
• A ban on requiring tenants to declaw or devocalize their pets. 
• A right for tenants to request both a move-in and a move-out inspection. 
• A prohibition on forcing tenants to renew their lease more than 6 months before the lease is over. 
• A limitation on the ability to evict tenants for crimes committed off the rental property. This will make it more difficult for you to evict tenants who have a history of criminal activity, and it will give tenants more protection from discrimination.
• Cannabis: This will be the subject for future articles. Notwithstanding, the new law legalizing recreational cannabis will prevent landlords from prohibiting tenants from possessing cannabis in the rental unit. However, landlords can still prohibit smoking or vaping so this may be an area to monitor for the safety of all tenants, including related to fire prevention and secondhand smoke.

Landlords need to be aware of these changes and adjust their practices accordingly. Landlords should take the time to familiarize themselves with the new laws and to adjust their practices accordingly.