Minnesota Session Laws - 2014, Regular Session

CHAPTER 215--S.F.No. 2398

An act

relating to commerce; updating the laws regulating liens on personal property in self-storage;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 514.971, subdivisions 2, 8, by adding a subdivision; 514.972, subdivision 4; 514.973; 514.974; 514.975.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 514.971, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Self-service storage facility.

deleted text begin "Self-service storage facility" means real property that is designed and used only for renting or leasing individual storage space in the facility under the following conditions: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) the occupants have access to their individual storage space only for the purpose of storing and removing their personal property; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) the owner does not issue a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title for the personal property stored in the storage space; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) the property has two or more individual storage spaces. deleted text end

deleted text begin The term does not include a garage used principally for parking motor vehicles or any property of a financial institution that contains vaults, safe deposit boxes, or other receptacles for the uses, purposes, and benefits of the financial institution's customers. deleted text end

new text begin (a) "Self-service storage facility" or "storage facility" means real property designed and used for the purpose of renting or leasing individual storage space to occupants who are to have access for the purpose of storing and removing personal property. The term does not include: new text end

new text begin (1) property of a financial institution that contains vaults, safe deposit boxes, or other receptacles for the uses, purposes, and benefits of the financial institution's customers; new text end

new text begin (2) a warehouse that issues a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title for the property; or new text end

new text begin (3) a commercial parking garage or parking lot that provides short-term motor vehicle parking. new text end

new text begin (b) An occupant must not use a self-service storage facility for residential purposes. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 514.971, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Storage space.

"Storage space" means deleted text begin an enclosure, cubicle, or room that is fully enclosed and equipped with a door designed to be locked for security by the occupant deleted text end new text begin the storage space or spaces at the storage facility that are rented to an occupant pursuant to a rental agreement new text end .

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 514.971, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Verified mail. new text end

new text begin "Verified mail" means any method of mailing that is offered by the United States Postal Service or private delivery service that provides evidence of mailing. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 514.972, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Denial of access.

Upon default new text begin , new text end the owner shall mail notice of default deleted text begin to the occupant at the last known address of the occupant deleted text end new text begin as provided under section 514.974 new text end . The owner may deny the occupant access to the personal property contained in the self-service storage facility after default, service of the notice of default, expiration of the date stated for denial of access, and application of any security deposit to unpaid rent. The notice of default must state the date that the occupant will be denied access to the occupant's personal property in the self-service storage facility and that access will be denied until the owner's claim has been satisfied. The notice of default must state that any dispute regarding denial of access can be raised by the occupant beginning legal action in court. Notice of default must further state the rights of the occupant contained in subdivision 5.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 514.973, is amended to read:

514.973 ENFORCEMENT OF LIEN.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Generally. new text end

An owner's lien established under sections 514.970 to 514.979 for a claim that has become due must be enforced deleted text begin in the same manner as warehouse's liens under section 336.7-210. deleted text end new text begin as provided in this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Notice; to whom and how sent. new text end

new text begin (a) The owner must notify the occupant and any person who has delivered to the owner a written notice of a claim of an interest in the contents in the storage space when rent and other charges are in default. The notice to the owner of a claim of an interest must comply with any requirements included in the rental agreement. If the property is a registered motor vehicle or watercraft, the notice also must be given to any lienholder or secured party appearing on the document of title or to any lienholder or secured party known to claim an interest in the motor vehicle or watercraft. new text end

new text begin (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), the notice must be delivered in person or sent by verified mail as provided under section 514.974. Notice sent by verified mail is presumed delivered when it is deposited with the United States Postal Service or private delivery service and properly addressed with postage prepaid. new text end

new text begin (c) The owner may send notices exclusively via electronic mail with the informed, written consent of the occupant. An occupant may withdraw consent at any time. The owner may not notify the occupant of the default by electronic mail unless the rental agreement, or a written change to the rental agreement, contains a written notice in at least 12-point bold type, if printed, which states: "By choosing the option to receive e-mail communication in this agreement, the owner will provide you notices and other information regarding your account through the e-mail reflected in our records, or in a subsequent written change of e-mail address that has been given according to the facility's procedures. To indicate that you understand and accept the contents of this notice and agree to the option to receive electronic communication, you must check the box that appears next to this paragraph." new text end

new text begin (d) The owner must verify that a notice sent by electronic mail has been delivered by obtaining an electronic receipt that establishes delivery of the notice to the occupant's e-mail address. If delivery of the electronic mail notice cannot be verified, the storage facility must deliver the notice in person or send the notice by verified mail. If the notice must be delivered in person or sent by verified mail after delivery by electronic mail has failed, the period specified in subdivision 3 does not begin until the date the notice is delivered in person or by verified mail. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Contents of notice. new text end

new text begin The notice must include: new text end

new text begin (1) a statement of the amount owed for rent and other charges and demand for payment within a specified time not less than 14 days after delivery of the notice; new text end

new text begin (2) pursuant to section 514.972, subdivision 4, a notice of denial of access to the storage space, if this denial is permitted under the terms of the rental agreement; new text end

new text begin (3) the name, street address, and telephone number of the owner, or of the owner's designated agent, whom the occupant may contact to respond to the notice; new text end

new text begin (4) a conspicuous statement that unless the claim is paid within the time stated in the notice, the personal property will be advertised for sale. The notice must specify the time and place of the sale; and new text end

new text begin (5) a conspicuous statement of the items that the occupant may remove without charge pursuant to section 514.972, subdivision 5, if the occupant is denied general access to the storage space. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Sale of property. new text end

new text begin (a) A sale of personal property may take place no sooner than 45 days after default or, if the personal property is a motor vehicle or watercraft, no sooner than 60 days after default. new text end

new text begin (b) After the expiration of the time given in the notice, the sale must be published once a week for two weeks consecutively in a newspaper of general circulation where the sale is to be held. The sale may take place no sooner than 15 days after the first publication. If the lien is satisfied before the second publication occurs, the second publication is waived. If there is no qualified newspaper under chapter 331A where the sale is to be held, the advertisement may be posted on an independent, publicly accessible Web site that advertises self storage lien sales or public notices. The advertisement must include a description of the goods, the name of the person on whose account the goods are being held, and the time and place of the sale. new text end

new text begin (c) A sale of the personal property must conform to the terms of the notification. new text end

new text begin (d) A sale of the personal property must be public and must be held at the storage facility, or at the nearest suitable place at which the personal property is held or stored. Online sales are permitted. Owners shall require all bidders, including online bidders, to register and agree to the rules of the sale. new text end

new text begin (e) The sale must be conducted in a commercially reasonable manner. A sale is commercially reasonable if the property is sold in conformity with the practices among dealers in the property sold or sellers of similar distressed property sales. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Averting the sale. new text end

new text begin Before any sale pursuant to this section is conducted, the occupant or any other person entitled to notice under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), may redeem the property by paying the amount sufficient to satisfy the lien and the reasonable expenses incurred complying with this section. If sufficient payment is made, the personal property may not be sold. new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Surplus. new text end

new text begin A storage facility may satisfy its lien from the proceeds of any sale pursuant to this section, provided that the storage facility must hold any sum obtained from the sale that exceeds the amount sufficient to satisfy the lien and the reasonable expenses incurred complying with this section for delivery on demand to the occupant and give notice to the occupant of the occupant's right to the funds as provided in section 514.974. Any balance remaining unclaimed by the occupant for more than one year after the sale of the goods must be deposited into the state unclaimed property funds account under sections 345.31 to 345.60. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Special procedures for motor vehicles. new text end

new text begin (a) If the personal property upon which the lien is claimed is a motor vehicle or watercraft, the owner may sell the motor vehicle or watercraft as provided in this section or have the motor vehicle or watercraft towed by a towing company. new text end

new text begin (b) The owner's lien is terminated upon the towing company taking possession of the property. new text end

new text begin (c) If a motor vehicle or watercraft is towed as authorized in this subdivision, the owner: new text end

new text begin (1) shall send, by the method provided under subdivision 2, the name, address, and telephone number of the towing company that will perform the towing and the street address of the storage facility where the towed property may be redeemed; and new text end

new text begin (2) is not liable for the motor vehicle or watercraft or any damages to the motor vehicle or watercraft once the towing company takes possession of the property. Nothing in this section relieves the towing company from liability for damage for which the company would otherwise be liable. new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Liability for damage. new text end

new text begin An occupant or other person entitled to notice under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), who is injured by a violation of this section may bring a civil action to recover damages. new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin No effect on other rights. new text end

new text begin The rights provided under this section are in addition to all other rights allowed by law to a creditor and a debtor. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 514.974, is amended to read:

514.974 ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.

deleted text begin In addition to the requirements of section 336.7-210, the deleted text end Notification of the proposed sale of personal property must include a notice of denial of access to the personal property until the owner's claim has been satisfied. Any notice the owner is required to mail to the occupant under sections 514.970 to 514.979 shall be sent to new text begin : new text end

new text begin (1) the e-mail address, if consented to by the occupant, as provided in section 514.973, subdivision 2; new text end

new text begin (2) new text end the mailing address and deleted text begin the deleted text end new text begin any new text end alternate mailing address provided by the occupant in the rental agreement deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or new text end

new text begin (3) the last known mailing address of the occupant, if the last known mailing address differs from the mailing address listed by the occupant in the rental agreement and the owner has reason to believe that the last known mailing address is more current. new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 514.975, is amended to read:

514.975 RENTAL AGREEMENTS.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Disclosure. new text end

The rental agreement between the owner and the occupant must include a disclosure of the lien rights of the owner upon failure of the occupant to pay rent including the right to deny access to certain personal property contained in the self-service storage facility, and the extent and the limits of insurance carried by the owner covering the occupant's personal property stored in the leased premises. A rental agreement may not exempt an owner from liability for damages to an occupant's personal property caused by the owner's negligence. deleted text begin The rental agreement must request the occupant to insert an alternate mailing address. deleted text end new text begin A rental agreement must contain a provision that allows the occupant to provide an optional alternate contact person. The rental agreement must contain a space that the occupant must initial if the occupant declines to provide an optional alternate contact person. The alternate contact person is used solely for purposes of providing notice of default under section 514.973. Adding an alternate contact does not give that contact an interest in the contents of the storage space. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Value of stored property. new text end

new text begin If the rental agreement entered into between the owner and the occupant contains a provision placing a limit on the value of property that may be stored in the occupant's space, this limit is the maximum value of the stored property, provided that the provision is printed in bold type or underlined in the rental agreement. The limit on the value of property may not be less than $1,000. The rental agreement may provide that the occupant may increase the limit on the value of property with the written permission of the owner. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Military protections. new text end

new text begin A rental agreement or an application for a rental agreement must contain a provision disclosing whether the applicant is a member of the uniformed services as the term is defined in United States Code, title 10, section 101(a)(5), or a member of the National Guard or a reserve component under United States Code, title 32, section 101. new text end

Sec. 8.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 7 are effective August 1, 2014, and apply to all rental agreements entered into, extended, or renewed on or after that date. new text end

Presented to the governor May 7, 2014

Signed by the governor May 9, 2014, 10:26 a.m.