Minneapolis City Council passes ordinance to strengthen renter protections

The Minneapolis City Council passed a new law to make sure landlords’ properties are up to code before their license is renewed.      

The city council said they passed this law to hold landlords accountable, citing unsafe homes and delayed repairs that often happen in low-income areas with renters of color and student renters.

Some college students explained that decent housing in Minneapolis is hard to come by.

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“I don’t have air conditioning in my room. I live in the lower floors. It’s usually pretty hot. It was definitely a little dirty when we moved in,” Cole Coolidge, a college student, said. “This is the first house I’ve ever had, so I didn’t really know what I was getting into.”

A college student, who asked not to be on camera, said her first two apartments in the city were a nightmare.

“My fridge was broken for two weeks; they weren’t in a rush to fix it,” she said. “It wasn’t until my mom called because she’s my co-signer that they fixed it.”

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The Minneapolis City Council has passed a new ordinance to tighten oversight on landlords.

Under the new policy, any rental property rated as tier three, meaning it has 40 or more code violations, will have to go before the city council to renew its license.

City data shows that at least 2,250 rental units have been flagged for violations that impact a tenant’s safety or quality of life.

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“This policy is to hold landlords accountable,” council member Jamal Osman said in an Oct. 9 meeting. “We require you to have basic things for the safety and health of our residents.”

Some critics believe this ordinance will be ineffective and potentially lead to fewer housing investments in the city.

“We are concerned that this ordinance could lead to unpredictable and potentially detrimental consequences like increased resident displacement and also stifle housing production and improvements,” Cathy Bennett, Twin Cities Housing Alliance housing policy expert, said in a Sept. 30 public hearing. “Our opposition to this ordinance does not diminish our call for serious and swift action against unsafe housing by enhancing the existing regulatory process.”

According to the city council, if a landlord’s license is revoked, the property owner can appeal the decision.

If the appeal is not successful, renters may qualify for Tenant Relocation Assistance, which could provide a payment equal to three months’ rent to help with relocation.

The new ordinance will go into effect in January 2027, giving landlords one year to ensure their properties are in compliance.