1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to housing; making the landlord the bill 
  1.3             payer and customer of record on utility accounts in 
  1.4             single-metered multiunit residential buildings; 
  1.5             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.6             chapter 504. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [504.186] [SINGLE-METER UTILITY SERVICE 
  1.9   PAYMENTS.] 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] For the purposes of this 
  1.11  section, the following terms have the meanings given to them.  
  1.12     (a) "Owner" has the meaning given to it in section 566.18, 
  1.13  subdivision 3. 
  1.14     (b) "Tenant" has the meaning given to it in section 566.18, 
  1.15  subdivision 2. 
  1.16     (c) "Building" has the meaning given to it in section 
  1.17  566.18, subdivision 7. 
  1.18     (d) "Single-metered residential building" means a multiunit 
  1.19  rental building with one or more separate residential living 
  1.20  units where the utility service measured through a single meter 
  1.21  provides service to an individual unit and to all or parts of 
  1.22  common areas or other units. 
  1.23     Subd. 2.  [SINGLE-METER UTILITY SERVICE PAYMENTS.] In every 
  1.24  lease or license of residential premises, whether in writing or 
  1.25  oral, the owner of a single-metered residential building shall 
  1.26  be the bill payer responsible and the customer of record 
  2.1   contracting with the utility for utility services.  The owner 
  2.2   must advise the utility provider that the utility services apply 
  2.3   to a single-metered residential building.  A failure by the 
  2.4   owner to comply with this subdivision is a violation of the 
  2.5   covenant described in section 504.18, subdivision 1, paragraph 
  2.6   (a).  In addition, a tenant may recover from an owner treble 
  2.7   damages or $500, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney 
  2.8   fees, for a violation of this subdivision.  This subdivision may 
  2.9   not be waived by contract or otherwise.  This subdivision does 
  2.10  not require an owner to contract and pay for utility service 
  2.11  provided to each residential unit through a separate meter which 
  2.12  accurately measures that unit's use only. 
  2.13     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.14     Section 1 applies to leases or licenses entered into or 
  2.15  renewed on or after August 1, 1995.