Do this today
- Put the repair request in writing. Date it. Keep a copy.
- Photograph the condition, including anything that is unsafe — no heat, no water, mold, pests, broken locks.
- Do not withhold rent until you have confirmed that Minnesota allows a process for it.
- Ask the city housing or health department whether they take condition complaints.
What should I put in writing?
What is broken, since when, how it affects living in the unit, and that you are asking for repair. Send it in a way you can prove. Minnesota landlord and tenant chapter may require written notice before other remedies exist. A text can help; a dated letter you can produce later is stronger.
Can I withhold rent in ${n}?
Sometimes a state has a lawful process for withholding, escrow, or repair-and-deduct. Sometimes skipping rent is itself grounds for eviction. That split is why this site will not tell you to withhold. Confirm Minnesota landlord and tenant chapter or ask legal aid in Minnesota first.
Is Minneapolis the same as St. Paul for renters?
Minnesota Chapter 504B is shared. The City ordinances are not. Minneapolis and St. Paul each have rental-licensing and tenant-protection rules. Ramsey County Housing Court is not Hennepin. Use the city of the unit.
The Minnesota chapter
Minnesota landlord and tenant chapter (Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.001 to 504B.501) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Minnesota state law is the floor. Cities may add rent boards, just-cause rules, or extra protected classes. Confirm locally.
Official sources
Common questions
Does Minnesota require my landlord to make repairs?
Most states impose a duty to keep a rental habitable. The exact list of systems, the notice you must give, and the remedies are in Minnesota landlord and tenant chapter. This page tells you what to write down, not which lever to pull.
Can I withhold rent in Minnesota if nothing is fixed?
Only if Minnesota law provides a process for it, and only if you follow that process. Ask legal aid before you skip a payment. A wrong withhold can become an eviction case.
Who else can I call in Minnesota?
City housing or health departments often take condition complaints. 211 can route you. Legal aid is the right call if a notice or a court paper arrived after you complained.
Is Minneapolis the same as St. Paul for renters?
Minnesota Chapter 504B is shared. The City ordinances are not. Minneapolis and St. Paul each have rental-licensing and tenant-protection rules. Ramsey County Housing Court is not Hennepin. Use the city of the unit.
The national repairs guide has the full sequence. Open the repairs guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org