Minnesota Eviction Laws: What Renters Must Know
Renting a property helps keep bills down, but you do have to deal with a landlord. Sometimes you won't have any issues, but other times, it could be a nightmare.are friendlier to tenants than landlords, but you need to know what your rights are to navigate them when you feel you've been wronged.
Let's take a look at some of the laws Minnesota has regarding landlords and when they can evict a tenant.
What Are the Eviction Laws in Minnesota?
, he must first file a complaint in district court for the eviction showing just cause. The tenant must receive a summons notice seven days prior to the court date. Once both parties are in court, they will each give their side of the story, showing proof, if applicable. The judge then makes a decision on the case. If the tenant doesn't show up for the hearing, the judge will likely rule in favor of the landlord, regardless of who was right.
If the judge decides that the landlord is in the right to evict the tenant, he will order that the tenant remove themselves from the property within a designated amount of time, which is usually within 30 days from the court date.
When is it Permissible to Evict a Tenant?
To evict a tenant from a rental property, a landlord must have good reason to do so. Some of the reasons that Minnesota eviction laws allow are:
- Non-payment of rent
- Breach of lease
- Remaining on the property after the lease ended
- Performing illegal activity on the property grounds
Failure to pay rent is the most common cause of tenants getting evicted, but there are circumstances that a judge may allow, like when evictions were suspended during the pandemic of 2020. Also, a renter has the chance to rectify the situation by paying all rent owed to the landlord before the date they are to leave the premises.
When is it Not Permissible to Evict a Tenant?
While there are good reasons to evict a tenant, there are times when it's unlawful for a landlord to evict someone from their rental property. Those include:
- Discrimination
- Retaliation
- Evict to rent to someone else
The landlord can't decide to evict based on discrimination. For example, let's say they rent out to a single woman who gets pregnant a few months after signing the lease. They can't just decide they don't want to rent to them anymore and try to evict them. They also can't evict a tenant in retaliation when the tenant wins a case to get necessary repairs done on the property.
Another reason they can't use to evict is when they have a friend or family member come to them wanting to rent out the place. They have to wait until the lease is up before taking any action.
Can You Fight an Eviction in MN?
If your landlord has filed a complaint to the court system to have you evicted, and you feel that they're wrong in doing so, all is not lost. One thing you could do is to show up to the hearing on the court date listed on the summons. This is where you get a chance to explain your side of the situation.
However, if you don't have a strong enough case, you could not only lose and get evicted anyway, you could be paying the landlord's lawyer's fees as well. In some cases, it could also affect your credit score and harm your chances of getting new rental housing. In that case, you could try negotiating a deal outside of court, if possible.
If the landlord tries to evict you without using the court system, they could be in trouble. It's unlawful in MN to change the locks to keep you out or to threaten you to leave. It has to be done by the court system. If your landlord has tried to lock you out as a way to evict you, you have a case that should be brought to court.
What Happens if You Don’t Leave Before the Eviction Date Arrives or if You Forget Some Items?
If the landlord has won the eviction in court, per the judge's order, they can't force you to leave. They can't threaten you or try changing the locks, it's against the eviction laws. If you don't leave the premises when you're supposed to, the landlord will have to resort to getting help from law enforcement.
| 28 days or until you pick them up | The landlord has to store those items |
| After the 28 day period | The landlord is allowed to dispose of the items |
| 14-day notice | The landlord has to give you a chance to pick the items |
How Can DoNotPay Help When It Comes to Eviction Laws in MN?
Our tool can help you when you feel your landlord is evicting you and you disagree with the result. We help you search through Minnesota eviction laws to see what rights apply to you and what needs to be done about it.
To use the DoNotPay tool, simply:
1. Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
2. Select which issue applies to you.
3. Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
4. Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.
If a demand letter is needed, we'll create one for you based on the information you provide, and all you have to do is wait for the landlord's response.
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
Our tool can help you in so many ways, especially when it comes to fighting for tenant rights. We can also help you:
- Deal with a landlord that's threatening to evict you
- Get your security deposit back
- File a complaint against your landlord
- Kick out a roommate
- Learn how to get your security deposit back
- Send a demand letter to your landlord for necessary repairs
- Learn your rights as a renter
- Learn the landlord's responsibilities when it comes to repairs
- Learn if a landlord can evict you without notice
- Learn letter to landlord about repairs
- Learn how long a landlord can take to return your security deposit
No matter what needs you have when it comes to dealing with a landlord, we're here to help you. Simply check us out and see what all we can do to protect your tenant's rights.