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Legal Information: Minnesota

Minnesota Housing Laws

Housing Laws

Ending a Lease

Basic information

Who is protected under this housing law? What protections does this law offer?

You may be protected under this housing law if:

  1. you are the victim of:
  2. 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)

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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)

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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)

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Requirements for breaking a lease

What documents or proof do I need to give to my landlord to get out of my lease if I am a victim?

If you are a victim of certain types of abuse, you might be able to end your lease early. To break your lease, you must give your landlord certain documents. You will need to give your landlord:

  1. written notice that is signed, dated, and includes the information listed in What information do I need to include in my written notice to the landlord?; and
  2. a qualifying document that proves that you are a victim of abuse. 1 See What is considered a “qualifying document”? for more information.

1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(1)(b)

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What information do I need to include in my written notice to the landlord?

Your written notice should state:

  • that you “fear imminent violence” from the abuser against you or another authorized occupant if you stay in the home;
  • you need to end your lease;
  • the date that you will leave your housing; and
  • written instructions for what to do with any personal property that remains in your housing.1

Your written notice must be given to the landlord before the date you plan to end your lease agreement. The notice can be delivered by mail, in person, or by any form of communication you normally use to communicate with your landlord. For example, you can send it by email if this is how you usually communicate with them. You also need to provide your landlord with your qualifying documentation of abuse.2

Your lease will officially end on the date you list in your notice. If you move out before that date, your lease does not officially end until the date stated in your notice.2

1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(1)(b)
2 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(1)(c)

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What is considered a “qualifying document”?

You must provide your landlord with a qualifying document that shows that you are eligible for protection under this law.1 A qualifying document is a(n):

  • order for protection;
  • no contact order;
  • writing produced and signed by a court official or law enforcement official acting in their official capacity that documents that you are a victim of domestic abuse, criminal sexual conduct, sexual extortion, or harassment and that includes the name of the abuser if it is known; or
  • statement by a qualified third party.2

Note: The qualified third party who is submitting a statement on your behalf can find a sample statement in the law in section 504B.206(6)(3).

1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(1)(c)
2 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(6)(3)

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Who is a “qualified third party”?

A qualified third party can be a:

The qualified third party must have had in-person contact with you while doing their job. This means that they had to be acting in an official capacity.

1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(6)(2)

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After the lease is terminated

Is the information I share with my landlord confidential?

The documentation and information you provide to your landlord are confidential, and they cannot share them with any person or agency. The law specifically says that the landlord cannot share any information:

  1. you provide in the written notice to the landlord;
  2. contained in the qualifying document;
  3. about your new address or location; or
  4. revealing that you are a victim of violence.1

The landlord must not share any of this information, even if you had signed documents before the incident giving the landlord permission to do so.2

1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(2)(a)
2 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(2)(c)

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What can I do if my landlord shares my private information?

If your landlord improperly shares your confidential information, you can take them to civil court. If the judge decides the landlord broke the law, the landlord must pay you $2,000 in damages and also cover your reasonable attorney fees and court costs.1

1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(2)(d)

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Protection from Housing Discrimination

Who does this law protect?

Can my landlord evict me because I am a victim?

Your landlord cannot evict you just because you or someone allowed to live with you is a victim of abuse.1 Your landlord also cannot evict you for ending your lease early if you used the law that lets victims of abuse, sexual assault, or harassment break their lease.2

However, your landlord may still evict you for another legal reason. For example, your landlord may evict you if you do not pay the rent you owe or if you break another lease rule.1

1 Minn. Stat. § 504B.285(1)(b)
2 Minn. Stat. § 504B.206(3)(d)

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Legal Information

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