Tenant Protections

As a tenant in Saint Paul, you have the following rights:

• Receive screening criteria before submitting your application
• Receive the reason(s) for a denial, and the name and contact information of the screening agency or credit reporting agency
• Receive notice 60 days before nonpayment eviction actions are started
  • Please note: This is temporary until December 31, 2026. Thirty-day notice requirement will begin on January 1, 2027.
• File a complaint without retaliation 

Tenants have the following responsibilities: 

• Pay rent on time
• Keep the unit in safe and clean condition 
• Report maintenance and issues to property owners or management companies in a timely manner
• Respond to notices and communications from property owners or management 
• Provide access to unit after required notice from the property owner or management company
   

As a property owner in Saint Paul, you have the following rights:

• Apply uniform screening criteria or complete an individualized assessment
• Require a security deposit that exceeds one month's rent if a tenant otherwise does not meet screening criteria

As a property owner in Saint Paul, you have the following responsibilities:

• Review additional information from the tenant to reconsider an application that would otherwise be rejected 
• Property owners must follow the policies set out in the Tenant Protections Ordinance. You can find more detail on the requirements for each of these protections in the sections below. 

An applicant can be disqualified for:

• Evictions in the last three years
• Relevant credit information (excludes credit score)
• Misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor sentences in the last three years 
• Felony sentences in the last seven years

A landlord may deny an applicant who was:  

• Convicted of violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)
• Convicted of offenses that disqualify the applicant from federally assisted housing
• Required to register for a lifetime registration to a state sex offender program

Please note: Property owners cannot disqualify an applicant based solely on credit. They can use relevant information, for example debt to a previous landlord or utility company.

Credit

• Applicants cannot be denied for credit score alone or for a lack of credit history (unless withheld in bad faith to avoid a denial).

Criminal History 

An applicant cannot be disqualified for:

• Arrest or charge from an inactive case that did not result in a conviction of a crime
• Participation or completion of a diversion program
• Any court file that is not public, has been expunged, or has been destroyed
• Any conviction that has been vacated or expunged
• Any conviction for a crime that is no longer illegal in the state of Minnesota
• Any conviction, determination, or adjudication in the juvenile justice system, except those pursuant to to Minn. Stat. § 260B.130
• A petty misdemeanor
• Any conviction for misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor offenses older than three years
• Any criminal conviction for felonies older than seven years

Rental History

• Pending eviction
• Any eviction that is three or more years older when the application is submitted
• Any eviction action that did not result in an order to vacate
• Insufficient rental history (unless withheld in bad faith to avoid a denial).

Please note: If using minimum income test (income must equal at least 2.5-times rent), landlord must allow applicant to demonstrate history of successful rent payment.

Landlords may use criteria that is stricter than the uniform screening criteria. In that case, they must conduct an individualized assessment for any criteria on which they would deny an application. Landlords must consider all written, relevant information the applicant submits. Landlords may deny an applicant if doing so doesn't discriminate per the Fair Housing Act.

Learn more about the Fair Housing Act. 

When an affordable housing building is sold, the new owner must notify the residents of any affordable housing unit of the change in ownership. Notice of Sale must occur within 30 days after the closing date transfers ownership. 

What to Include in the Notice of Sale

The Notice of Sale must include the following information:

• Name, mailing address and telephone number of the new landlord
• Whether the new landlord will require existing Affordable Housing Unit tenants to be re-screened to determine compliance with existing or modified residency screening criteria during the Tenant Protection Period. If so, the notice must also include a copy of the screening criteria.
• Whether the new landlord will terminate or not renew Rental Agreements without cause during the Tenant Protection Period and if so, notice to the affected Affordable Housing Unit tenants whose Rental Agreements will terminate and the date the Rental Agreements will terminate.
• Whether the new landlord intends to increase rent, require existing Affordable Housing Unit Tenants to be re-screened to determine compliance with existing or modified residency screening criteria, or terminate or not renew Affordable Housing Unit Rental Agreements without cause on the day immediately following the Tenant Protection Period.

It must also include the following text:

“Saint Paul Legislative Code chapter 193 provides for a tenant protection period for affordable housing tenants.  Under section 193.06(b)(1), affordable housing tenants may be entitled to relocation assistance from the new landlord if the new Landlord, without Cause, terminates or does not renew the tenant’s rental agreement within the tenant protection period.  Affordable housing unit tenants may also be entitled to relocation assistance from the new landlord if the landlord raises the rent or initiates a tenant rescreening process within the tenant protection period and the tenant terminates their rental agreement.”

And the following advisory:

“This is important information about your housing.  If you do not understand it, have someone translate it for you now, or request a translation from your landlord.”

Please note: This advisory must be stated in the notice in the language identified in the City’s most current Limited English Proficiency Plan.  Upon written request by a tenant that identifies the tenant’s native language, the landlord must provide a written translation of the notice in that language.
 

As part of the Notice of Sale policy, there is a Tenant Protection Period. This period starts on the transfer of ownership and runs through the end of three calendar months, following the month in which the Notice of Sale is sent to each affordable housing tenant. 

No actions related to rent increases, rescreening, or notice to vacate can take place during the Tenant Protection Period without cause. Certain actions may result in a renter receiving relocation assistance.

 

Relocation assistance is compensation for a violation by a property owner during the Tenant Protection Period. Relocation assistance must equal three months of the current total rent per the rental agreement.

Following a violation, property owners are expected to pay relocation assistance within 30 days after the tenant terminates the lease or the property owner provides notice of termination or nonrenewal. 

• HOME Line
  • Website: https://homelinemn.org/ 
  • Phone: 612-728-5767
• Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
  • Website: https://www.smrls.org 
  • Phone: 651-222-5863
• Volunteer Lawyers Network
  • Website: https://www.vlnmn.org 
  • Phone: 612-752-6677 (Intake available Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Housing Justice Center
  • Website: https://www.hjcmn.org/resources 

City of Saint Paul Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity

The City of Saint Paul's Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO) enforces the City’s Human Rights Ordinance (Chapter 183). This ordinance prohibits discrimination in housing and other areas based on race, color, national origin, disability, sex, sexual or affectional orientation, religion, creed, age, marital status, familial status, ancestry, and status with regard to public assistance.

For more information or if you believe you have experienced discrimination, contact HREEO to learn about your options.

• Website: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/human-rights-equal-economic-opportunity/human-rights-investigations
• Phone: 651-266-8966

Email HREEO

• City of Saint Paul Emergency Rent Assistance Program
• City of Saint Paul Financial Resources Hub
• Ramsey County Emergency Assistance
• Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties Energy Assistance

• Ramsey County Housing Stability
  • Website: https://www.ramseycountymn.gov/your-government/departments/housing-stability 
  • Phone: 651-266-1050
• Community Stabilization Project
  • Website: https://csp501dale.wixsite.com/communitystabproject  
  • Phone: 651-225-8778

• Community Mediation Minnesota 
  • Website: https://communitymediationmn.org/ 
  • Email: Info@CommunityMediationMN.org
  • Phone: 833-266-2663
• Dispute Resolution Center  
  • Website: https://www.disputeresolutioncenter.org/ 
  • Phone: 651-292-7791 

Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities (State of Minnesota)

The State of Minnesota's Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities handbook covers information about the rights and duties of landlords and tenants everywhere in Minnesota, including while moving into and out of an apartment. 

View the Handbook

Minnesota Multi Housing Association

The Minnesota Multi Housing Association (MHA) is a membership organization for multi housing professionals. They focus on advocacy and education for property owners, managers, and developers of all sizes.

Learn More About the MHA

City of Saint Paul 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program

The 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program preserves the affordability of unsubsidized naturally occurring rental units in the City of Saint Paul by providing rental property owners an avenue to receive the 4d (or “Low-income rental classification”/LIRC) tax classification and one-time administrative grant assistance.

Learn More About the 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program

• Community Mediation Minnesota 
  • Website: https://communitymediationmn.org/ 
  • Email: Info@CommunityMediationMN.org
  • Phone: 833-266-2663
• Dispute Resolution Center  
  • Website: https://www.disputeresolutioncenter.org/ 
  • Phone: 651-292-7791 

Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities (State of Minnesota)

The State of Minnesota's Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities handbook covers information about the rights and duties of landlords and tenants everywhere in Minnesota, including while moving into and out of an apartment. 

View the Handbook

Yes. Applicants may include additional information in their rental application. In certain cases, property owners are required to assess any additional information applicants provide.

Landlords must provide the applicant with written notice of denial within 14 days. 

The landlord must also provide contact information for the screening company or credit reporting agency.

After purchasing an affordable housing building, new property owners can terminate a tenant’s lease, but may need to pay for relocation assistance.

Yes. However, rent increases must be in accordance with the City of Saint Paul's Rent Stabilization Ordinance. 

During the Tenant Protection Period, landlords must notify tenants of an upcoming rent increase going into effect after the end of the Tenant Protection Period.

The landlord may be able to increase rent during the Tenant Protection Period once they’ve given Notice of Sale. However, tenants may then be entitled to relocation assistance.
 

Yes. A property owner and current tenant can agree to a payment schedule that includes paying more than one month of rent at a time. The Tenant Protections Ordinance sets limits for pre-paid rent being charged as a condition to move in.