Can Landlord Increase Rent During Lease Minnesota

Minnesota landlords, like others in the country, have a right to raise the rent on their tenants. It's important to keep up with the market, with rising rents in your area, and to make property improvements when looking to raise your monthly rates.

In addition to that, there are procedures in place that a landlord must follow. You have to abide by certain local and state laws when doing so; otherwise, you risk getting sued by your tenant for illegal actions.

The following are the rent increase laws in Minnesota that every landlord in the state should know.

Are Landlords Permitted to Raise Rent on Their Tenants?

Of course, they are, as long as you do so within the confines of the lease or rental agreement.

Typically, landlords increase the rent during the lease renewal process. The only exception to this is if there is a clause in the lease that permits you to do it during the course of the lease.

You may also be able to raise the rent on a 'holdover' tenant at any time, so long as you serve them with a written notice ahead of time. Note that a holdover tenant is someone that lives in their rented premises 'at the will of the landlord'.

MN landlord giving notice for rent increases

Are There Cities in Minnesota With Rent Control Laws?

Minnesota preempts the ability of a local municipality to adopt any ordinance intended to control rent on a private residence. The only exception to this is if there is an ordinance that has been approved by a general election.

When are landlords not Permitted to Increase Rent in Minnesota?

As a landlord, it would be considered illegal for you to raise the rent on your tenant based on two scenarios:

If it's an act of retaliation.
If it goes against the provisions of the Fair Housing Act

Your Minnesota tenants are afforded certain rights once they sign a lease with you. The rights include:

Filing a suit against the management or filing a complaint with Consumer Protection.
Exercising their First Amendment rights to assemble and present their collective views.
Complaining to the fire department, building inspector, health inspector, or a government agency about unhealthy, illegal, or unsafe conditions at the property.
Exercising their rights to withhold rent or "repair and deduct" if you fail in your maintenance responsibilities.
Refusing your entry without proper notice. In Minnesota, you have to notify your tenant before entering their premises. The amount of notice depends on the circumstances of your visit. For routine purposes, you must provide your tenant with at least 24 hours' notice prior to visiting them.

legally raising rent in Minnesota

It would be illegal for you to raise the rent based on any of the aforementioned issues, as that would amount to landlord retaliation.

What's more, as a landlord in Minnesota, you're required to abide by the federal and state Fair Housing Laws. This means that you cannot discriminate against a tenant based on their protected characteristics. These characteristics include race, color, gender, religion, age, disability, familial status, and national origin.

Are There Laws in Regards to Late Fees?

If you plan on charging late fees, then you must disclose that information in the lease agreement.

What Happens if a Check Bounces?

In the event that a check bounces for insufficient funds, you can charge your tenant up to $30.

Must You Provide Your Minnesota Tenants with a Rent Increase Notice?

Yes. In Minnesota, you must provide your tenant with a 30-Day notice before increasing rent on 'at will' tenants.

Are Minnesota Landlords Limited by How Much they can Raise Rent?

No. As a landlord in Minnesota, you are not limited on the amount you can increase the rent by. The state doesn't legislate rent increases.

How Often Can You Increase Rent?

There is currently no legislation dictating how often you can increase rent rates. You can do so as often as you want, as long as you do it within the confines of the lease/rental agreement.

Increasing rent in Minneapolis, MN

Summary:

As a Minnesota landlord, there are a lot of details that you have to keep track of at all times. You need to ensure that you comply with all rental and security deposit laws and landlord-tenant laws all while managing the daily responsibilities that come with running a rental property.

If this seems daunting, consider hiring the services of a professional property management company like MN Property Nerds. Contact them today, their team of real estate experts will happily answer any questions you may have!

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Also, laws keep changing and it might not be up-to-date at the time of your reading. For expert help, please consult an experienced property management company.