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EspañolWho is protected under this housing law? What protections does this law offer?
You may be protected under this housing law if:
- you are the victim of:
- domestic abuse;
- criminal sexual conduct in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th degrees;
- sexual extortion; or
- harassment; and
- you fear immediate violence against you or another tenant or authorized occupant.1
If you are a person protected under this law, you (the tenant) may be able to end your lease before it expires if you fear immediate violence against you or another tenant or authorized occupant. Additionally, you will no longer have to pay your rent or any other charges for the rest of the lease period when you are no longer living there.2 However, you are responsible for the rent payment for the full month that you end your lease.3
1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(1)(a)
2 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(1)(a)
3 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(3)(b)
If I get my lease terminated, how will this affect my roommates?
If you have any co-tenants and you end your lease, the lease agreement also ends for the co-tenants. You and any other tenants will have to pay rent for the full month that you end your lease. Additionally, you and the other tenants give up your right to have the security deposit returned. You and your co-tenants will no longer have any responsibility to pay rent or any other charges for the rest of the lease period. The other tenant(s) have the option of reapplying to start a new lease with the landlord.1
1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(3)(b)
Once I notify my landlord that I want to end my lease, do I still have to pay my rent? Will I get my security deposit back?
Once you notify your landlord that you want to end your lease, you will not have to pay rent or any other charges for the months after your lease officially ends. However, you are responsible for paying the full rent for the month in which you end your lease.
Ending your lease does not end your responsibility to pay the landlord for any unpaid rent or money owed before your lease ended. In addition, when you choose to end your lease early, you give up your right to have your security deposit returned.1
Your lease officially ends on the date you list in your notice to your landlord. Even if you move out before that date, your lease does not legally end until the date stated in your written notice.2
To learn more about how to end your lease, see What documents or proof do I need to give to my landlord to get out of my lease if I am a victim?
1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(3)(a), (3)(c)
2 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(1)(c)
