Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.131
RENT LIABILITY; UNINHABITABLE BUILDINGS.
Operative Text
A tenant or occupant of a building that is destroyed or becomes uninhabitable or unfit for occupancy through no fault or neglect of the tenant or occupant may vacate and surrender such a building. A tenant or occupant may expressly agree otherwise except as prohibited by section 504B.161.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.131, when a building is destroyed or becomes uninhabitable or unfit for occupancy through no fault of the tenant or occupant, that person is legally permitted to vacate and surrender the premises without remaining liable for rent. The rule also recognizes that a tenant or occupant may voluntarily agree to different terms, unless such an agreement would be prohibited by the protections set out in § 504B.161. In essence, the provision draws a line between conditions caused by the tenant and those that are not, with the latter triggering a right to exit the tenancy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Minn. Stat. § 504B.131 generally ensure that buildings are maintained in a habitable condition, since a tenant's right to vacate without penalty is triggered when uninhabitability arises through no fault of the occupant. Compliant operators typically document the cause of any damage or deterioration carefully, distinguishing between tenant-caused conditions and those arising from other sources. Operators also review any lease provisions that purport to waive this right against the limits imposed by § 504B.161 to confirm those clauses are enforceable.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.131 establishes that tenants and occupants who find their building destroyed or rendered uninhabitable through no fault of their own have a recognized right to vacate and surrender the premises. Tenants in this situation may be able to raise this provision as a defense to any claim for continued rent obligations, or they may choose to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand how the rule interacts with their specific lease terms. It is also worth noting that § 504B.161 sets limits on what a landlord can require a tenant to agree to, which may affect whether any lease language purporting to waive these rights is valid.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.