The City of St. Paul is planning to approve a set of new rules that look almost identical to the ones that the City of Minneapolis enacted and went into effect on June 1, 2020.
These include:
- Requiring distribution and posting of a information packet and poster that specifies the obligations and rights of both tenants and landlords. This is similar to the Minneapolis 311 poster.
- Security deposits will be limited to 1 month rent. A recent amendment to this provision that states that a landlord can charge a higher security deposit if the tenant otherwise would be denied the unit. We are uncertain how this is different than current practices.
- Credit scores, insufficient rental and credit history may no longer be used as a reason to deny applicants.
- Only misdemeanors less than 3 years old and felonies less than 7 years old (10 years for certain violent felonies) can be considered for applicants.
- Landlords would not be able to reject applicants for petty misdemeanors or crimes no longer illegal in Minnesota or where arrests/charges do not result in conviction.
- A landlord must give “just cause” in writing when choosing to not renew a tenant’s lease. The ordinance lays out 10 allowable causes for non-renewal. [7/8/20 Update-You can read the details of the just clause here]
- Landlords must notify tenants in buildings with 5 or more units of pending sale at least 90 days prior to putting a property up for sale. Proponents believe this will help tenants in naturally occurring affordable housing units find new housing.
As this St. Paul ordinance is approved, we will get more information. [7/8/20 Update-Find the full Ordinance here]
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