On Monday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed a new city ordinance that protects the rights of renters who sign leases before their buildings are ready for occupancy.
The ordinance stems from an issue students at the University of Minnesota faced this past fall, when a building they had signed pre-leases for missed its completion date, sticking students with bills but no place to live.
Council Member Robin Wonsley, who represents the University area, worked with the students who were left without housing for a month and some for the entire semester when writing the policy.
Under the ordinance, any landlord who signs a tenant to a pre-lease and is unable to allow their renter to occupy the space by the start of the lease must offer the renter either alternative housing until the unit is ready, reimbursement of the rent until its ready, or the option to exit the lease with all fees and deposits refunded.
The ordinance will also take place immediately, according to Frey’s office.
“This ordinance makes a whole lot of sense, because it’s fair,” Frey said in a statement. “We’ve got students who need to be able to move into their apartments on time and be able to attend classes. If you can’t do that, it’s not fair to anybody, and this ordinance helps correct that.”