In Minnesota, tenants have specific rights regarding rent increases, but there are no statewide rent control laws that limit the amount a landlord can increase rent. Here’s what tenants should know about rent increase laws in Minnesota as of 2025:
- No Rent Control: Minnesota state law prohibits cities and other local governments from enacting rent control ordinances. This means landlords can generally increase rent as much as they deem necessary.
- Notice Requirement: Landlords must provide proper written notice before increasing rent. The required notice period depends on the lease term:
- Leases of less than 3 months: Landlords must provide notice at least one rental period plus one day before the increase takes effect.
- Month-to-month leases: Landlords must provide at least a one-month advance written notice.
- Leases longer than month-to-month: The notice period is the same as the length of the lease, up to a maximum of three months.
- Lease Agreements: If a tenant has a fixed-term lease, the rent cannot be increased during the lease term unless the lease agreement specifically allows for it.
- Retaliation: A landlord cannot raise rent in retaliation against a tenant who has asserted their rights, such as requesting repairs or reporting housing code violations. Rent increases are presumed retaliatory if they occur within 90 days of a tenant’s protected action.
- Discrimination: Landlords cannot increase rent in a discriminatory manner based on protected characteristics like race, religion, national origin, familial status, disability, or other protected classes under federal and state law.
- Unlawful Rent Increase: If a landlord does not provide the required notice, or if the increase is retaliatory or discriminatory, the tenant may have legal recourse. This could include refusing to pay the increase, filing a lawsuit, or seeking assistance from a tenants’ rights organization.
- Resources: Several organizations in Minnesota offer assistance to tenants, such as HOME Line and Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. These groups can provide legal advice, education, and advocacy services.
Tenants should carefully review their lease agreements and document all communications with their landlords. If a tenant believes their rights have been violated, they should seek legal advice from a qualified attorney or tenants’ rights organization.
sources
[1] https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1205&version=0
[2] https://www.mnlawyerreferral.org/blog/is-there-rent-control-in-minnesota
[3] https://www.steadily.com/blog/how-much-can-a-landlord-raise-rent-in-minnesota
[4] https://homelinemn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Minnesota-Tenant-Bill-of-Rights_2024_11-08.pdf
