reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MN Stat § 504B.173 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.173 — Applicant Screening Fee.

504B.173 APPLICANT SCREENING FEE. Subdivision 1. Limitations. A landlord may not: (1) charge an applicant a screening fee when the landlord knows or should have known that no rental unit is available at that time or will be available within a reasonable future time; (2) collect or hold an applicant screening fee without giving the applicant a written receipt for the fee, which may be incorporated into the application form, upon request of the applicant; or (3) use, cash, or deposit an applicant screening fee until all prior applicants have either been screened and rejected, or offered the unit and declined to enter into a rental agreement. Subd. 2. Return of applicant screening fee. (a) The landlord must return the applicant screening fee if: (1) the applicant is rejected for any reason not listed in the disclosure required under subdivision 3; or (2) a prior applicant is offered the unit and agrees to enter into a rental agreement. (b) If the landlord does not perform a personal reference check or does not obtain a consumer credit report or tenant screening report, the landlord must return any amount of the applicant screening fee that is not used for those purposes. (c) The applicant screening fee may be returned by mail, may be destroyed upon the applicant's request if paid by check, or may be made available for the applicant to retrieve. Subd. 3. Disclosures to applicant. If a landlord accepts an applicant screening fee from a prospective tenant, the landlord must: (1) disclose in writing prior to accepting the applicant screening fee: (i) the name, address, and telephone number of the tenant screening service the landlord will use, unless the landlord does not use a tenant screening service; and (ii) the criteria on which the decision to rent to the prospective tenant will be based; and (2) notify the applicant within 14 days of rejecting a rental application, identifying the criteria the applicant failed to meet. Subd. 4. Remedies. (a) In addition to any other remedies, a landlord who violates this section is liable to the applicant for the applicant screening fee plus a civil penalty of up to $100, civil court filing costs, and reasonable attorney fees incurred to enforce this remedy. (b) A prospective tenant who provides materially false information on the application or omits material information requested is liable to the landlord for damages, plus a civil penalty of up to $500, civil court filing costs, and reasonable attorney fees. History:  1999 c 150 s 1; 1999 c 199 art 1 s 174; 2010 c 315 s 4
MN Stat § 504B.175 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.175 — Prelease Deposit.

504B.175 PRELEASE DEPOSIT. Subdivision 1. Definition. For the purpose of this section, "prelease deposit" means payment given to a landlord from a prospective tenant of a residential dwelling unit before the prospective tenant and the landlord have entered into a rental agreement. "Prelease deposit" does not include the payment of a reasonable applicant screening fee used to conduct a background check on the prospective tenant. Subd. 2. Limitations. (a) A prelease deposit may be accepted only if the landlord and prospective tenant enter into a conspicuous written agreement that includes: (1) the circumstances under which it will be returned; and (2) that the landlord is required to return the prelease deposit within seven days of the occurrence of a circumstance described in clause (1). (b) "Return" means postmarked within seven days except that upon the prospective tenant's request, a landlord may destroy the payment or hold it for retrieval by the tenant instead of returning it by mail. Subd. 3. Application on entry into rental agreement. If a prospective tenant and landlord do enter into a rental agreement, the prelease deposit must be applied to that tenant's security deposit or rent. Subd. 4. Remedies. In addition to any other remedies, a landlord who violates this section is liable to the payor of the prelease deposit for the amount of the deposit paid, plus one-half of that amount as a penalty. A landlord who enters into a rental agreement with a tenant is not liable under this section unless the landlord failed to comply with subdivision 3. History:  1999 c 97 s 1; 1999 c 199 art 1 s 174
MN Stat § 504B.177 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.177 — Late Fees.

504B.177 LATE FEES. (a) A landlord of a residential building may not charge a late fee if the rent is paid after the due date, unless the tenant and landlord have agreed in writing that a late fee may be imposed. The agreement must specify when the late fee will be imposed. In no case may the late fee exceed eight percent of the overdue rent payment. Any late fee charged or collected is not considered to be either interest or liquidated damages. For purposes of this paragraph, the "due date" does not include a date, earlier than the date contained in the written or oral lease by which, if the rent is paid, the tenant earns a discount. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if a federal statute, regulation, or handbook permitting late fees for a tenancy subsidized under a federal program conflicts with paragraph (a), then the landlord may publish and implement a late payment fee schedule that complies with the federal statute, regulation, or handbook. History:  2010 c 315 s 5; 2012 c 132 s 1
MN Stat § 504B.185 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.185 — Inspection; Notice.

504B.185 INSPECTION; NOTICE. Subdivision 1. Who may request. If requested by a residential tenant, a housing-related neighborhood organization with the written permission of a residential tenant, or, if a residential building is unoccupied, by a housing-related neighborhood organization, an inspection shall be made by the local authority charged with enforcing a code claimed to be violated. Subd. 2. Notice. (a) After the local authority has inspected the residential building under subdivision 1, the inspector shall inform the landlord or the landlord's agent and the residential tenant or housing-related neighborhood organization in writing of any code violations discovered. (b) A reasonable period of time must be allowed in which to correct the violations. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 18
MN Stat § 504B.204 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.204 — Action For Rental Of Condemned Residential Premises.

504B.204 ACTION FOR RENTAL OF CONDEMNED RESIDENTIAL PREMISES. (a) A landlord, agent, or person acting under the landlord's direction or control may not accept rent or a security deposit for residential rental property from a tenant after the leased premises have been condemned or declared unfit for human habitation by the applicable state or local authority, if the tenancy commenced after the premises were condemned or declared unfit for human habitation. If a landlord, agent, or a person acting under the landlord's direction or control violates this section, the landlord is liable to the tenant for actual damages and an amount equal to three times the amount of all money collected from the tenant after date of condemnation or declaration, plus costs and attorney fees. (b) The remedies provided in this section are in addition to and shall not limit other rights or remedies available to landlords and tenants. Any provision, whether oral or written, of any lease or other agreement, whereby any provision of this section is waived by a tenant, is contrary to public policy and void. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 21
MN Stat § 504B.205 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.205 — Residential Tenant's Right To Seek Police And Emergency Assistance.

504B.205 RESIDENTIAL TENANT'S RIGHT TO SEEK POLICE AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. Subdivision 1. Definitions. In this section, "domestic abuse" has the meaning given in section 518B.01, subdivision 2. Subd. 2. Emergency calls permitted. (a) A landlord may not: (1) bar or limit a residential tenant's right to call for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct; or (2) impose a penalty on a residential tenant for calling for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct. (b) A residential tenant may not waive and a landlord may not require the residential tenant to waive the residential tenant's right to call for police or emergency assistance. Subd. 3. Local preemption. This section preempts any inconsistent local ordinance or rule including, without limitation, any ordinance or rule that: (1) requires an eviction after a specified number of calls by a residential tenant for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct; or (2) provides that calls by a residential tenant for police or emergency assistance in response to domestic abuse or any other conduct may be used to penalize or charge a fee to a landlord. This subdivision shall not otherwise preempt any local ordinance or rule that penalizes a landlord for, or requires a landlord to abate, conduct on the premises that constitutes a nuisance or other disorderly conduct as defined by local ordinance or rule. Subd. 4. Residential tenant responsibility. This section shall not be construed to condone or permit any breach of a lease or of law by a residential tenant including, but not limited to, disturbing the peace and quiet of other tenants, damage to property, and disorderly conduct. Subd. 5. Residential tenant remedies. A residential tenant may bring a civil action for a violation of this section and recover from the landlord $250 or actual damages, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's fees. Subd. 6. Attorney general authority. The attorney general has authority under section 8.31 to investigate and prosecute violations of this section. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 22
MN Stat § 504B.221 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.221 — Unlawful Termination Of Utilities.

504B.221 UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF UTILITIES. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control, interrupts or causes the interruption of electricity, heat, gas, or water services to the tenant, the tenant may recover from the landlord treble damages or $500, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's fees. It is a defense to any action brought under this section that the interruption was the result of the deliberate or negligent act or omission of a tenant or anyone acting under the direction or control of the tenant. The tenant may recover only actual damages under this section if: (1) the tenant has not given the landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control, notice of the interruption; or (2) the landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control, after receiving notice of the interruption from the tenant and within a reasonable period of time after the interruption, taking into account the nature of the service interrupted and the effect of the interrupted service on the health, welfare, and safety of the tenants, has reinstated or made a good faith effort to reinstate the service or has taken other remedial action; or (3) the interruption was for the purpose of repairing or correcting faulty or defective equipment or protecting the health and safety of the occupants of the premises involved and the service was reinstated or a good faith effort was made to reinstate the service or other remedial action was taken by the landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control within a reasonable period of time, taking into account the nature of the defect, the nature of the service interrupted, and the effect of the interrupted service on the health, welfare, and safety of the tenants. (b) The remedies provided in this section are in addition to and shall not limit other rights or remedies available to landlords and tenants. Any provision, whether oral or written, of any lease or other agreement, whereby any provision of this section is waived by a tenant, is contrary to public policy and void. The provisions of this section also apply to occupants and owners of residential real property which is the subject of a mortgage foreclosure or contract for deed cancellation and as to which the period for redemption or reinstatement of the contract has expired. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 25
MN Stat § 504B.225 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.225 — Intentional Ouster And Interruption Of Utilities; Misdemeanor.

504B.225 INTENTIONAL OUSTER AND INTERRUPTION OF UTILITIES; MISDEMEANOR. A landlord, an agent, or person acting under the landlord's direction or control who unlawfully and intentionally removes or excludes a tenant from lands or tenements or intentionally interrupts or causes the interruption of electrical, heat, gas, or water services to the tenant with intent to unlawfully remove or exclude the tenant from lands or tenements is guilty of a misdemeanor. In any trial under this section, it shall be presumed that the landlord, agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control interrupted or caused the interruption of the service with intent to unlawfully remove or exclude the tenant from lands or tenements, if it is established by evidence that the landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control intentionally interrupted or caused the interruption of the service to the tenant. The burden is upon the landlord to rebut the presumption. The remedies provided in this section are in addition to and shall not limit other rights or remedies available to landlords and tenants. Any provision, whether oral or written, of any lease or other agreement, whereby any provision of this section is waived by a tenant, is contrary to public policy and void. The provisions of this section also apply to occupants and owners of residential real property which is the subject of a mortgage foreclosure or contract for deed cancellation and as to which the period for redemption or reinstatement of the contract has expired. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 26
MN Stat § 504B.231 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.231 — Damages For Ouster.

504B.231 DAMAGES FOR OUSTER. (a) If a landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the landlord's direction or control unlawfully and in bad faith removes, excludes, or forcibly keeps out a tenant from residential premises, the tenant may recover from the landlord treble damages or $500, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's fees. (b) The remedies provided in this section are in addition to and shall not limit other rights or remedies available to landlords and tenants. Any provision, whether oral or written, of any lease or other agreement, whereby any provision of this section is waived by a tenant, is contrary to public policy and void. The provisions of this section also apply to occupants and owners of residential real property which is the subject of a mortgage foreclosure or contract for deed cancellation and as to which the period for redemption or reinstatement of the contract has expired. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 27
MN Stat § 504B.235 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.235 — Definitions.

504B.235 DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Applicability. The definitions in this section apply to sections 504B.235 to 504B.245. Subd. 2. Proper identification. "Proper identification" means information generally considered sufficient to identify a person, including a Minnesota driver's license, a Minnesota identification card, other forms of identification provided by a unit of government, a notarized statement of identity with a specimen signature of the person, or other reasonable form of identification. Subd. 3. Residential tenant report. "Residential tenant report" means a written, oral, or other communication by a residential tenant screening service that includes information concerning an individual's creditworthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living, and that is collected, used, or expected to be used for the purpose of making decisions relating to residential tenancies or residential tenancy applications. Subd. 4. Residential tenant screening service. "Residential tenant screening service" means a person or business regularly engaged in the practice of gathering, storing, or disseminating information about tenants or assembling tenant reports for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 28
MN Stat § 504B.245 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.245 — Tenant Report; Remedies.

504B.245 TENANT REPORT; REMEDIES. The remedies provided in section 8.31 apply to a violation of section 504B.241. A residential tenant screening service or landlord in compliance with the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, United States Code, title 15, section 1681, et seq., is considered to be in compliance with section 504B.241. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 30
MN Stat § 504B.251 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.251 — Recording Of Notice Of Cancellation Of Leases.

504B.251 RECORDING OF NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF LEASES. Where a lease has been duly recorded, the county recorder must record a copy of the notice of cancellation or termination of the lease that has been presented for recording by the landlord, landlord's agent, or attorney. The notice must be accompanied by proof of service and an affidavit of the landlord or the landlord's agent or attorney stating that the tenant has not complied with the terms of the notice. This notice is prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 31
MN Stat § 504B.255 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.255 — Termination Notice Requirement For Federally Subsidized Housing.

504B.255 TERMINATION NOTICE REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. The landlord of federally subsidized rental housing must give residential tenants of federally subsidized rental housing a one-year written notice under the following conditions: (1) a federal Section 8 contract will expire; (2) the landlord will exercise the option to terminate or not renew a federal Section 8 contract and mortgage; (3) the landlord will prepay a mortgage and the prepayment will result in the termination of any federal use restrictions that apply to the housing; or (4) the landlord will terminate a housing subsidy program. The notice shall be provided at the commencement of the lease if the lease commences less than one year before any of the conditions in clauses (1) to (4) apply. History:  1999 c 199 art 1 s 32  NOTE: Clause (3) of this section was found preempted to the extent that it creates a longer termination timeline than under applicable federal law in Forest Park II v. Hadley, 336 F.3d 724 (8th Cir. 2003).
MN Stat § 504B.261 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.261 — Pets In Subsidized Disability Accessible Rental Housing Units.

504B.261 PETS IN SUBSIDIZED DISABILITY ACCESSIBLE RENTAL HOUSING UNITS. In a multiunit residential building, a tenant of a disability accessible unit, in which the tenant or the unit receives a subsidy that directly reduces or eliminates the tenant's rent responsibility, must be allowed to have two birds or one spayed or neutered dog or one spayed or neutered cat. A renter under this section may not keep or have visits from an animal that constitutes a threat to the health or safety of other individuals, or causes a noise nuisance or noise disturbance to other renters. The landlord may require the renter to pay an additional damage deposit in an amount reasonable to cover damage likely to be caused by the animal. The deposit is refundable at any time the renter leaves the unit of housing to the extent it exceeds the amount of damage actually caused by the animal. History:  1999 c 199 art 1 s 33; 2005 c 56 s 1
MN Stat § 504B.265 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 500 - 515B — Property And Property Interests|Chapter 504B — Landlord And Tenant|Section 504B.265 — Termination Of Lease Upon Death Of Tenant.

504B.265 TERMINATION OF LEASE UPON DEATH OF TENANT. Subdivision 1. Termination of lease. Any party to a lease of residential premises other than a lease at will may terminate the lease prior to its expiration date in the manner provided in subdivision 2 upon the death of the tenant or, if there is more than one tenant, upon the death of all tenants. Subd. 2. Notice. Either the landlord or the personal representative of the tenant's estate may terminate the lease upon at least two months' written notice, to be effective on the last day of a calendar month, and hand delivered or mailed by postage prepaid, first class United States mail, to the address of the other party. The landlord may comply with the notice requirement of this subdivision by delivering or mailing the notice to the premises formerly occupied by the tenant. The termination of a lease under this section shall not relieve the tenant's estate from liability either for the payment of rent or other sums owed prior to or during the notice period, or for the payment of amounts necessary to restore the premises to their condition at the commencement of the tenancy, ordinary wear and tear excepted. Subd. 3. Waiver prohibited. Any attempted waiver by a landlord and tenant or tenant's personal representative, by contract or otherwise, of the right of termination provided by this section, and any lease provision or agreement requiring a longer notice period than that provided by this section, shall be void and unenforceable; provided, however, that the landlord and tenant or tenant's personal representative may agree to otherwise modify the specific provisions of this section. Subd. 4. Applicability. The provisions of this section apply to leases entered into or renewed after May 12, 1981. History:   1999 c 199 art 1 s 34