Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to protect tenants from being forced out of their homes by landlords who receive government assistance for renovations. It ensures that such renovations, which are intended to accommodate tenant health and safety or disabilities, do not result in the tenant losing their residence.

Main Provisions

• Protection Against Nonrenewal: Landlords who receive federal, state, or local funds for renovating a rental unit must allow the tenant to stay in the unit. If a landlord issues a notice of lease nonrenewal to such tenants, this notice is null and void.
• Legal and Financial Liabilities: If a landlord violates this provision by trying to nonrenew a lease, they are responsible for any costs the tenant incurs, including legal fees.
• Constructive Nonrenewal: Any substantial and unjustified rent increase can be treated as an indirect way of forcing a tenant out, known as a "constructive nonrenewal," and is considered a violation of the bill.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill adds provisions to Minnesota law (specifically, Chapter 504B) that explicitly prevent landlords from terminating leases or effectively pushing tenants out through excessive rent increases when those landlords have received financial assistance for renovations.

Relevant Terms

• Nonrenewal of Lease
• Renovation Assistance
• Constructive Nonrenewal
• Tenant Rights
• Government Housing Assistance
• Eviction Action
• Lease Amendment