{"id":374271,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:43","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/minnesota-law\/minnesota-leases-and-rental-agreements-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:50:57","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:50:57","slug":"minnesota-leases-and-rental-agreements-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/minnesota-law\/minnesota-leases-and-rental-agreements-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Leases and Rental Agreements Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Minnesota Leases and Rental Agreements Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n

Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Basics of Lease and Rental Agreement Laws<\/h2>\n

State laws establish the basic legal framework for entering into landlord-tenant relationships<\/a>, including security deposit limits and anti-discrimination provisions. The lease document, or rental agreement, is a legally binding contract that confers certain rights and responsibilities on each party. That means either party may be held liable for violations of the contract, whether it’s a landlord failing to fix a water pipe or a tenant keeping a cat in violation of the lease.<\/p>\n

Leases and Rental Agreement Laws in Minnesota<\/h2>\n

According to Minnesota statute, landlords are required to return the security deposit (minus amount for cleaning and\/or repairs) within three weeks of the lease termination. Failure to do so can result in the landlord being liable for damages equal to the amount being withheld as deposit, including interest. However, there is no monetary limit on the amount of deposit a landlord may require.<\/p>\n

While Minnesota law broadly prohibits landlord discrimination against tenants, there are some exceptions. For instance, planned retirement communities may enforce a minimum age; a shelter for abused women is not required to admit men; and someone who owns a two-bedroom home is not required to rent the spare bedroom to a gay applicant.<\/p>\n

The following chart provides additional information about Minnesota’s lease and rental agreement laws. For more articles and resources, see FindLaw’s Rental and Lease Agreements<\/a> section.<\/p>\n\n
Code Section<\/td>\n504B.178; 363A.21, .09; 504B.141<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Terms of Leases<\/td>\nPeriod of the shortest interval between times of payment of rent under expired lease shall be implied<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Deposits<\/td>\nNo limit on deposit; interest on deposit required at 3-4%; deposit must be returned within 3 weeks of termination; landlord must provide a written statement of damages within 3 weeks of termination<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Discrimination<\/td>\nNo discrimination on basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, familial status; housing for older persons exempted; landlords may advertise "adults only"<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Uniform Residential Landlord & Tenant Act Adopted?<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

Note:<\/i><\/b> State laws are always subject to change, usually through new legislation, higher court decisions, and ballot initiatives. We do our best to keep these pages updated, but you may also want to contact a Minnesota landlord-tenant law attorney<\/a> or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\n

Research the Law<\/h2>\n