If you’re a tenant in Minnesota, recent legislative changes have introduced new protections and rights that could significantly impact your rental experience. From eviction expungements to service animal fee prohibitions, these updates ensure that renters are treated fairly and have better housing security. Here’s a quick rundown of the key changes you need to know:

Key Legislative Changes for Tenants

✅ Mandatory Expungements for Evictions – If you have an eviction record, you may now be eligible for mandatory expungement, helping to improve future rental opportunities.

✅ Service & Support Animal Fee Prohibition – Landlords can no longer charge extra fees, deposits, or charges for service and support animals.

✅ Use of ITINs on Rental Applications – If you don’t have a Social Security number, you can now use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) when applying for a rental.

✅ Protections Against Construction Delays – If new construction delays prevent you from moving in on time, landlords must offer alternative housing or allow you to terminate your lease without penalty.

✅ Landlord Duty to Mitigate – If you have to move out mid-lease, landlords must make reasonable efforts to re-rent your unit instead of holding you fully liable for the remaining rent.

✅ Prohibition on Denying Applications Based on Pending Evictions – Landlords cannot reject rental applications based on an eviction action that hasn’t resulted in a final judgment against the tenant.

✅ Limits on Late Fees for Subsidized Housing – Late fees can only be charged based on the tenant’s portion of the rent, not the full rental amount.

✅ Ban on Rent Collection for Condemned Properties – If a property is condemned by authorities, landlords can no longer collect rent from tenants living there.

✅ Tenant Right to Organize – Tenants now have legal protections when forming tenant associations and cannot be retaliated against by landlords.

These are just a few of the critical changes that have been enacted to support renters in Minnesota. Staying informed about your rights can help you make better housing decisions and protect yourself from unfair practices.

📥 Want to learn more? Download the full summary of 2025 legislative changes here.