as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to landlords and tenants; requiring a 1.3 landlord to return an application fee or provide a 1.4 reason for denial in writing; providing for a civil 1.5 penalty; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 1.6 Statutes, chapter 504. 1.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.8 Section 1. [504.311] [APPLICATION FEE REFUND OR WRITTEN 1.9 DENIAL TO RENTAL HOUSING APPLICANT.] 1.10 (a) An owner as defined in section 566.18, subdivision 3, 1.11 who collects an application fee from a rental housing applicant 1.12 and denies that applicant the rental unit, must either: 1.13 (1) refund to the applicant the entire application fee; or 1.14 (2) provide to the applicant in writing a reason for denial 1.15 that must consist of: 1.16 (i) a copy of the tenant screening report furnished by a 1.17 tenant screening company that the owner relied upon to deny the 1.18 applicant; or 1.19 (ii) other information the owner relied on to deny the 1.20 applicant, and the source of that information. 1.21 (b) A landlord, owner, or caretaker who fails to comply 1.22 with paragraph (a) within ten working days of accepting an 1.23 application fee is liable to the applicant for the application 1.24 fee plus a civil penalty of $150 and civil court filing costs. 1.25 (c) All rental housing applications must include 1.26 information on an applicant's rights under this section.