Minn. Stat. § 504B § 504B.204
ACTION FOR RENTAL OF CONDEMNED RESIDENTIAL PREMISES.
Operative Text
(a) A landlord, agent, or person acting under the landlord's direction or control may not accept rent or a security deposit for residential rental property from a tenant after the leased premises have been (1) condemned or declared unfit for human habitation, (2) ordered to be vacated due to violations of a housing, health, or fire code or rental licensing ordinance by the applicable federal, state, or local authority, or (3) ordered to be vacated pursuant to a government taking. If a landlord, agent, or a person acting under the landlord's direction or control violates this section, the landlord is liable to the tenant for actual damages and an amount equal to three times the amount of all money collected from the tenant after date of condemnation or declaration, plus costs and attorney fees. A violation of this section violates section 504B.161. This section shall be liberally construed for the protection of tenants. (b) The remedies provided in this section are in addition to and shall not limit other rights or remedies available to landlords and tenants. Any provision, whether oral or written, of any lease or other agreement, whereby any provision of this section is waived by a tenant, is contrary to public policy and void.
Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.204, once residential rental property has been condemned, declared unfit for human habitation, or ordered vacated due to code violations or a government taking, a landlord is prohibited from collecting rent or a security deposit from a tenant for that property. Any money collected after that point exposes the landlord to liability for actual damages plus three times the total amount collected, along with costs and attorney fees. The statute also specifies that any lease clause attempting to waive these tenant protections is void as contrary to public policy, and the law is to be interpreted broadly in tenants' favor.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Minn. Stat. § 504B.204 are generally expected to immediately cease collecting rent or security deposits the moment a property receives a condemnation notice, an order declaring it unfit for human habitation, or a vacate order stemming from code violations or a government taking. Compliant operators typically maintain clear internal procedures for tracking the status of all regulatory orders affecting their properties so that billing and collection activities can be halted without delay. Because a violation also triggers liability under § 504B.161, operators commonly document the date of any official order and communicate promptly with tenants about the property's status.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Minn. Stat. § 504B.204 gives tenants the right to recover actual damages plus three times all money paid after a condemnation or vacate order, along with costs and attorney fees, if a landlord continues collecting rent or a security deposit on a condemned or vacated property. Tenants may raise a violation of this provision as a defense in eviction or collection proceedings, or pursue an affirmative claim in court. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with Minnesota housing law can help tenants understand the general enforcement paths available under this statute.
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.
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