Minnesota
Tenant rights advocates tout new Minnesota laws offering added renter protections
Minnesota renters have new protections aimed at making the relationship between landlords and tenants more equitable. The changes are reflected in laws that went into effect this week.
Among other things, landlords must provide renters with 14 days notice of eviction filings. They must also give tenants a 24-hour notice before entering the property they rent out.
In highlighting the changes at a news conference Thursday, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan also pointed to a new requirement that landlords must clearly disclose mandatory fees in rental advertising and on page one of all leases. The rules also entitle residents to a minimum thermostat temperature of 68 degrees during winter months.
“Renters should feel confident in predicting their monthly expenses, their ability to maintain their space and that the heat and water will turn on each day,” Flanagan said. “And that’s what these new laws are all about.”
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The new measures also require counties to give legal assistance to public housing residents facing eviction. All evictions will now be expunged from renter records after three years.
Michael Dahl, public policy director at the tenant advocacy group HOME Line, said the changes were long in the works.
“Tenants’ stories are part of why we, how we got here today,” he said, praising lawmakers who enacted the changes for responding to legitimate concerns.
He said those lawmakers “listened when we told them stories about renters searching for apartments that they thought they could afford, but when they were there to sign the lease, they found that there were hundreds of dollars of additional fees: move in fees, move out fees, administrative fees, fees to pay your rent through an online portal, the list goes on.”
Rep. Esther Agbaje, DFL-Minneapolis, sponsored some of the proposals.
“These new laws acknowledge the fundamental right to secure housing and empower tenants with the tools and resources they need to thrive,” she said. “This is a victory for fairness, stability and dignity for all Minnesotans.”
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Protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are continuing across the Triangle this week, fueled by anger and fear after a woman was shot and killed during an immigration enforcement operation Wednesday in Minnesota.
Adali Abeldanez, owner of Moroleon Supermarket in Durham, said fear is impacting daily life and local businesses, including his own.
“People are still stressed and worried,” he said.
Abeldanez said he has seen a noticeable change in customer behavior since ICE operations intensified. While his store has offered delivery services for years, he noticed requests surged in November, when ICE was in the state, and have remained high.
“That uptick in delivery – do you believe that’s directly tied to people’s fear about ICE?” WRAL asked Abeldanez.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said.
He said some store clients are afraid to leave their homes and are relying on organized deliveries instead. Abeldanez said his wife is undocumented and frightened, a feeling he said is widely shared in the immigrant community.
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Abeldanez believes ICE agents need more training and greater accountability.
“They’re dealing with people — human beings. It’s life,” he said. “The law should be enforced, but obviously with due process and taking into consideration humanity, being humane.”
He also criticized what he described as racial profiling; he said agents approach people in public spaces based on appearance rather than targeted investigations.
“They should have some kind of plan to know where to go, who to look for, and not just randomly pick people,” Abeldanez said.
Despite his concerns, Abeldanez said he felt encouraged by this week’s protests, as long as they remain peaceful.
“As long as it’s something peaceful, I feel proud,” he said. “Seeing people protest in favor of protecting the immigrant community — I think that’s awesome.”
But while both sides believe peaceful protesting is important, the divide is regarding ICE’s actions.
Matt Mercer, communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, said the Minnesota shooting involved an agent acting in self-defense, citing video evidence and injuries the agent sustained.
“There’s a human element where someone loses their life, which you never want to see,” Mercer said. “But the video speaks for itself.”
Mercer said recent confrontations with ICE agents are not peaceful protests but attempts to obstruct federal law enforcement.
“If you wish to protest, do that in ways you can traditionally protest,” Mercer said. “Surrounding agents, obstructing vehicles or creating chaos is not legitimate protest.”
The Minnesota incident remains under investigation. Meanwhile, protests in the Triangle are expected to continue, including one Friday night in Durham.
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