HF 4464

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/29/2024 02:57pm

A bill for an act
relating to housing; creating a statewide landlord database; creating a civil penalty
for a failure to register with the statewide landlord database; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 462A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [462A.45] STATEWIDE LANDLORD DATABASE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this
subdivision have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Landlord" has the meaning given in section 504B.001, subdivision 7.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Residential building" has the meaning given in 504B.001, subdivision 11.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Tenant" has the meaning given to "residential tenant" in section 504B.001,
subdivision 12.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Statewide landlord database. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Housing Finance
Agency shall create a statewide landlord database that collects and retains the information
required in this section. The agency must not charge a fee to a landlord for annually
submitting information to the database. Access to the database must also be at no cost and
the information submitted must be accessible to the public through a public website that
can be searched by a public user. The database must allow tenants and prospective tenants
to report rental units or landlords who cannot be found in the database.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Landlord database; annual submissions. new text end

new text begin (a) Before renting a rental unit in
a residential building in the state or within 30 days of renting a rental unit in the state, a
landlord must provide the following information to the statewide landlord database:
new text end

new text begin (1) the complete legal names of the owners of the residential building where the rental
property is located and, if the property is owned by a company or group of investors, the
complete legal names of each natural person who has an economic interest in the residential
building;
new text end

new text begin (2) the business address of each natural person who owns an interest in the property;
new text end

new text begin (3) the name, address, and contact information for the landlord or manager of the property;
new text end

new text begin (4) the rent for each residential rental unit on the first day that the property is rented or
on January 1 of the year of the filing for a renewal; and
new text end

new text begin (5) if the rental unit or the residential building has a rental license, the date of issue,
expiration, and jurisdiction issuing the license.
new text end

new text begin (b) A landlord must annually update a submission for each rental unit or residential
building that the landlord is renting by February 1 or, if a unit is vacant, before or during
the first 30 days that the rental unit is occupied.
new text end

new text begin (c) A landlord who fails to comply with this subdivision is subject to penalties under
subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Enforcement. new text end

new text begin (a) A tenant who is unable to locate a property or property owner
in the statewide landlord database shall notify the Housing Finance Agency that the landlord
or unit could not be found, and the tenant must provide their contact information, the unit
address, and the contact information for the landlord. The Housing Finance Agency must
send a letter to the landlord with information on the database and notice that the landlord
must provide the landlord's annual submission to the database within 30 days of the date
that the landlord received notice of the letter. The Housing Finance Agency must send the
tenant a copy of the letter. An enforcement action under paragraph (b) may not be brought
until 31 days after the date of the letter sent under this paragraph.
new text end

new text begin (b) The attorney general may enforce this section. The court may award a civil penalty
of up to $5,000 if the court finds that the landlord has repeated knowing and willful violations
of this section.
new text end