1998 Minnesota Statutes

     504A.161 Disclosure required for outstanding inspection 
  and condemnation orders. 

    Subdivision 1.    Disclosure to tenant.  (a) Except as 
 provided in subdivision 3, a landlord shall provide a copy of 
 all outstanding inspection orders for which a citation has been 
 issued, pertaining to a rental unit or common area, specifying 
 code violations issued under section 504A.501, that the 
 inspector identifies as requiring notice because the violations 
 threaten the health or safety of the tenant, and all outstanding 
 condemnation orders and declarations that the premises are unfit 
 for human habitation to: 

    (1) a residential tenant, either by delivery or by United 
 States mail, postage prepaid, within 72 hours after issuance of 
 the citation; 

    (2) a person before signing a lease or paying rent or a 
 security deposit to begin a new tenancy; and 

    (3) a person prior to obtaining new ownership of the 
 property subject to the order or declaration. 

    The inspector shall indicate on the inspection order 
 whether the violation threatens the health or safety of a tenant 
 or prospective tenant. 

    (b) If an inspection order, for which a citation has been 
 issued, does not involve code violations that threaten the 
 health or safety of the tenants, the landlord shall post a 
 summary of the inspection order in a conspicuous place in each 
 building affected by the inspection order, along with a notice 
 that the inspection order will be made available by the landlord 
 for review, upon a request of a tenant or prospective tenant.  
 The landlord shall provide a copy of the inspection order for 
 review by a tenant or a prospective tenant as required under 
 this subdivision.  

    Subd. 2.    Penalty.  If the landlord violates this 
 section, the residential tenant is entitled to remedies provided 
 by section 8.31, subdivision 3a, and other equitable relief as 
 determined by the court.  

    Subd. 3.    Exception.  A landlord is not in violation 
 of this section if: 

    (1) the landlord has received only an initial order to 
 repair; 

    (2) the time allowed to complete the repairs, including any 
 extension of the deadline, has not yet expired, or less than 60 
 days has elapsed since the expiration date of repair orders and 
 any extension or no citation has been issued; or 

    (3) the landlord completes the repairs within the time 
 given to repair, including any extension of the deadline.  

    Subd. 4.    Landlord's defense.  It is an affirmative 
 defense in an action brought under this section for the landlord 
 to prove that disclosure was made as required under subdivision 
 1.  

    HIST: 1998 c 253 s 13