St. Paul, MN – Tonight marks the conclusion of the eviction moratorium off-ramp, but renters who are behind on their rent will remain protected from eviction if they have an open rental assistance application at RentHelpMN.org. This is the key message that legislators are sharing today as they seek to ensure housing stability for Minnesotans amidst the global pandemic.
“At the height of the pandemic, Governor Walz’s eviction moratorium saved lives, and as we reach the end of our off-ramp to that moratorium, it’s imperative that those who are behind on their rent get the help they need,” said Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL – St. Paul) Chair of the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee. “Ensuring that landlords are made whole and that Minnesota renters maintain their housing has been at the core of our work in passing our bipartisan eviction moratorium off-ramp.”
“The off-ramp has given renters and landlords the opportunity to be made whole as they bounce back from the struggles of the past year,” said Rep. Michael Howard (DFL- Richfield), vice chair of the Housing Finance and Policy Committee. “With so much turmoil in people’s lives, we want to make sure that renters know their rights and know about their opportunities to seek help.”
Here is the important information that renters and landlords need to know:
- After today (October 12), landlords are able to file evictions for any renters who are behind on rent.
- Assistance is available to Minnesotans who are behind on rent at RentHelpMN.org or by calling 211. Renters can get caught up on past due rent with those resources going directly to landlords.
- Renters that have an open rental assistance application maintain protection from eviction for nonpayment while the application is pending. There is no deadline to apply, but renters should apply as soon as you fall behind on rent.
- Renters who have an open rental assistance application have protection from evictions until June 1, 2022, but only for those tenants who have pending applications, so applying for this assistance is essential.
- If a renter receives an eviction notice, they still need to go to court, whether they have a pending rental assistance application or not. An eviction is almost certain to occur if the tenant does not show up to their hearing. At court, renters can show they have a pending application or access other assistance.
- Tenants should seek legal advice about their situation before their court hearing. In some cases, tenants may be eligible for free legal representation in court. Call Home Line at 866-866-3546 or go to LawHelpMN.org.