Domestic Abuse Lease Termination

The holiday season is in full swing and much to the chagrin of public servants and mental health professionals, increased holiday fervor is accompanied by  an increase in domestic violence.  Reasons can be many ranging from more parties with access to alcohol, financial stress from buying presents, spending time with relatives that one doesn't get along with, time pressure or just plain being alone.  In too many cases these stressors are the  breeding ground for domestic abuse.   

St. Paul rental property owners should be aware that a new Minnesota law became effective on July 1, 2007, that gives very specific victims of domestic abuse the right to terminate their lease prior to the ending date with no financial repercussions.  The law applies only to a tenant who is a victim of domestic abuse and fears imminent abuse to self or minor children if they remain in the leased premises.  There is a specific procedure the fearful tenant must follow in giving notice and the law only applies in a narrow set of circumstances.  As a landlord, however, it is wise to be aware of this new law in the event a tenant gives notice based on domestic abuse.  A copy of the law can be accessed here.

Comments

[Bonnie Erickson]

Gene, When I did property management years ago, one of the north western suburbs cracked down on landlords in the same manner. If there were more than 3 calls to a building, the certificate of occupancy was pulled and the building had to be emptied. A couple big problem complexes actually closed and the owners walked as a result. It was a "turning point" for that city which had started to develop a bad reputation.

[Gene Molloy]

It's so nice to see another Municipality trying to take care of their citizens.

Here in Des Plaines, they have passed, and are enforcing, an ordinance that allows the City to take action against a landlord if the police get called to a building on a reoccurring basis.

This certainly gives landlords the motivation to screen their tenants a bit more carefully and to get rid of problem tenants in a swift and timely manner.