What do we think of when we think of “home?” It’s where family and loved ones are. It is a place of comfort, privacy, and safety. A sanctuary and last refuge. A place that is uniquely our own. We know that when we go home, we will have a place to relax, rest, and live without fear of intrusion. All of these staples or essentials for a safe, healthy, and happy home. Homeowners and renters should feel safe and secure in their place of residence. They deserve and have a right to it.
Unfortunately, for many renters across the state of Minnesota, that safe and secure home has been fractured. Consider the following real-life examples:
A tenant in Fridley was in their bathroom with the door closed when their son ran to the door saying, “Mommy, someone is in the apartment.” Her landlord said they were there for maintenance and had used his key to enter the apartment. He claims he has the right to come in unannounced whenever he wants because he owns the property.
A tenant in Maple Grove was set to move into their apartment, their landlord having provided a welcoming letter with all their utilities and costs. The tenant thought everything was in order. In reality the costs listed on the lease were nowhere near the actual amount. What started out as a utility bill costing $100-$200 ended up becoming a utility bill that meant the tenant was paying for water, sewer, gas, electricity, storm water, two trash removal charges, and other administrative fees, totaling to over $400 in charges every month.
A tenant in Minneapolis who is a single mother with three kids, lost her job and became behind on rent. Their landlord agreed to give them time to pay back the rent, but then filed an eviction action against them in the process. She was eventually able to pay everything back but is now juggling trying to find housing and a job while caring for her children. All she needed was a little more time during a difficult time.
Tenants across the state routinely experience this kind of mistreatment by landlords. While not all landlords treat tenants with such disregard, there exists a power imbalance between tenants and landlords. Landlords write the leases; they hold most of the power. In many situations this can force renters to accept and deal with substandard and sometimes uninhabitable conditions because they have no other options available to them.
We need state law to correct this power imbalance. The Minnesota State Legislature should pass some basic rights and protections not found in the leases tenants must sign today.
This 2023 Legislative Session HOME Line will advocate for these basic rights and protections for tenants across the state with a wide coalition of organizations, tenants, landlords, and legislators. Our proposals include mandating a pre-eviction notice prior to a landlord taking a tenant to court for non-payment of rent, reforming evictions and eviction reporting, adding repairs to be classified as emergencies, addressing rent transparency (no surprise/hidden fees), expanding tenant privacy and infirmity rights, and regulating a standard heat code across the state. This legislation has already been approved by the Minnesota House for almost four years in a row now. These are basics that need to be passed.
Tenants depend on the Legislature to take action on issues that force tenants to trade their health, livelihoods, and income in hopes of finding housing for their families. This year we hope to work with the legislature and ally organizations to finally provide the basic rights and protections tenants need to have safe and healthy homes across Minnesota. It is inconceivable that tenants in 2022 are still having to fight to keep their homes warm enough, have basic privacy in their homes, and find transparent and accurate leases.
Renters shouldn’t have to shop for basic rights and protections.
If you want to know more about HOME Line’s Legislative Agenda you can attend an educational webinar led by Public Policy Director Michael Dahl on Wednesday, December 14th. You can find the link to the webinar here.
Aidan Earnest
HOME Line Public Policy Intern and UMN Law Student
It would be great to have info and resources on renters rights to privacy, to enjoy normal life and to be at home without undue intrusion and controls. How can we find this info, even as it currently exists? As always, thanks for all you do!
One helpful resource is this free publication from the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities.
Specifically on privacy rights, MN Statute § 504B.211 is the law providing some protections for Minnesota renters. HOME Line has a form letter for tenants impacted by a violation of privacy available here.
More generally on ensuring a rental home in Minnesota is in good condition, MN Statute § 504B.161 provides for covenants that impact all residential landlord/tenant relationships in Minnesota and provide for the right to a rental unit fit for use intended, kept up in reasonable repair, and maintained in compliance with local/state health and safety laws. HOME Line also has a form letter available here for requesting repairs to a rental unit, citing this law.
If you have questions about your specific rental situation, please contact our hotline.