SF 920

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to landlord tenant; prohibiting landlords 
  1.3             from charging application fees to prospective tenants; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 504B.173, 
  1.5             subdivisions 3, 4, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.6             repealing Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 504B.173, 
  1.7             subdivisions 1 and 2. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 504B.173, is 
  1.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 1a.  [APPLICANT SCREENING FEES PROHIBITED.] A 
  1.12  landlord or a landlord's agent may not charge an application fee 
  1.13  to any individual in order for the individual to apply to enter 
  1.14  into a rental agreement for a residential dwelling unit. 
  1.15     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 504B.173, 
  1.16  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.17     Subd. 3.  [DISCLOSURES TO APPLICANT.] A landlord or the 
  1.18  landlord's agent, prior to taking an application fee from a 
  1.19  prospective tenant, must disclose on the application form or 
  1.20  orally the name, address, and telephone number of the tenant 
  1.21  screening service the owner will use, unless the owner does not 
  1.22  use a tenant screening service. 
  1.23     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 504B.173, 
  1.24  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  1.25     Subd. 4.  [REMEDIES.] In addition to any other remedies, a 
  1.26  landlord who violates this section is liable to the applicant 
  2.1   for the any application fee paid in violation of subdivision 1a, 
  2.2   plus a civil penalty of up to $100, civil court filing costs, 
  2.3   and reasonable attorney fees incurred to enforce this remedy. 
  2.4      Sec. 4.  [REPEALER.] 
  2.5      Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 504B.173, subdivisions 1 
  2.6   and 2, are repealed.