Minnesota landlord repair laws

What your landlord is required to fix, how long they have once you put it in writing, and what Minnesota law lets you do if they don't.

What your landlord must maintain

Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, a landlord must keep the premises and all common areas fit for the use intended, keep them in reasonable repair including pest control, comply with applicable health and safety laws, and maintain a minimum temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit in all habitable areas from October 1 through April 30 — obligations the parties may not waive.

Conditions the statute covers

• ✓No working heat
• ✓No running water
• ✓No hot water
• ✓Electrical system not working or unsafe
• ✓Plumbing not in working order
• ✓Sewage backup or unsanitary conditions
• ✓Air conditioning not working (where supplied)
• ✓Supplied appliances not working — stove, refrigerator
• ✓Unsafe floors, stairs, railings, ceiling, or roof
• ✓Roof, window, or plumbing leak causing damage
• ✓Mold growth
• ✓Rodent or insect infestation
• ✓Common areas unsafe or unsanitary
• ✓No garbage receptacles or removal
• ✓Broken exterior door, window, or lock
• ✓Building or housing code violation

What you can do about it

Once written notice has been given and the statutory period has passed, you may deposit rent with the court administrator under § 504B.385 and bring a tenant remedies action under § 504B.395, in which the court may order repairs, order the rent applied to remedy the violation, find the extent to which uncorrected violations impair my use and enjoyment and abate the rent accordingly, appoint an administrator, and award reasonable attorney fees under § 504B.425.

Minnesota has no repair-and-deduct remedy. Paying for a repair and subtracting the cost from your rent is not authorized here, and doing it anyway can put your tenancy at risk. Use the remedies the statute actually provides.

Retaliation is illegal

Minn. Stat. § 504B.441 prohibits retaliation, and where the landlord's action follows within 90 days of the tenant's complaint the burden is on the landlord to prove it was not retaliatory.

Limits and exceptions

Minnesota provides no self-help repair-and-deduct; a court may order the tenant to remedy and deduct the cost under § 504B.425(c). Attorney fees under § 504B.425(g) are capped at $500 for a prevailing residential tenant.

Common questions

How long does a landlord have to make repairs in Minnesota?

Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.385, you have 14 days after receipt of this notice to correct the violation before I may deposit rent with the court administrator; § 504B.395(4) requires the same 14 days' written notice before a tenant remedies action may be commenced. That clock starts when your landlord receives written notice — which is why how you send it matters.

Can I withhold rent or repair it myself in Minnesota?

Minnesota does not provide a repair-and-deduct remedy — paying for a repair and subtracting it from rent is not something the statute allows here, and doing it can put your tenancy at risk. Your remedies are deposit rent with the court administrator under § 504B.385 and bring a tenant remedies action under § 504B.395, in which the court may order repairs, order the rent applied to remedy the violation, find the extent to which uncorrected violations impair my use and enjoyment and abate the rent accordingly, appoint an administrator, and award reasonable attorney fees under § 504B.425.

Can my landlord retaliate if I ask for repairs in Minnesota?

Minn. Stat. § 504B.441 prohibits retaliation, and where the landlord's action follows within 90 days of the tenant's complaint the burden is on the landlord to prove it was not retaliatory.

Do I have to put a repair request in writing in Minnesota?

Yes — and it is the single most important step. Under Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.385, 504B.395, the landlord's obligations and your remedies run from written notice. A text message or a phone call generally leaves you arguing about whether and when your landlord was told.