Minnesota Session Laws - 1995, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 192-H.F.No. 323 
                  An act relating to housing; making the landlord the 
                  bill payer and customer of record on utility accounts 
                  in single-metered multiunit residential buildings; 
                  amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 504.185, 
                  subdivision 1, and by adding a subdivision. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 504.185, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] For the purposes of this 
        section, the following terms have the meanings given to them.  
           (a) "Owner" has the meaning given to it in section 566.18, 
        subdivision 3. 
           (b) "Tenant" has the meaning given to it in section 566.18, 
        subdivision 2. 
           (c) "Building" has the meaning given to it in section 
        566.18, subdivision 7. 
           (d) "Single-metered residential building" means a multiunit 
        rental building with one or more separate residential living 
        units where the utility service measured through a single meter 
        provides service to an individual unit and to all or parts of 
        common areas or other units. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 504.185, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 1a.  [SINGLE-METER UTILITY SERVICE PAYMENTS.] In a 
        residential leasehold contract entered into or renewed on or 
        after August 1, 1995, the owner of a single-metered residential 
        building shall be the bill payer responsible, and shall be the 
        customer of record contracting with the utility for utility 
        services.  The owner must advise the utility provider that the 
        utility services apply to a single-metered residential 
        building.  A failure by the owner to comply with this 
        subdivision is a violation of sections 504.18, subdivision 1, 
        clause (a), and 504.26.  This subdivision may not be waived by 
        contract or otherwise.  This subdivision does not require an 
        owner to contract and pay for utility service provided to each 
        residential unit through a separate meter which accurately 
        measures that unit's use only. 
           Presented to the governor May 17, 1995 
           Signed by the governor May 19, 1995, 2:33 p.m.