§ 504B.225 — Intentional Ouster and Interruption of Utilities; Misdemeanor
Plain-Language Summary
It is a crime (misdemeanor) for a landlord to illegally lock out a tenant or shut off utilities like electricity, heat, gas, or water to force a tenant to leave. If a landlord cuts off utilities, the law assumes it was done to force the tenant out, and the landlord must prove otherwise.
504B.225 INTENTIONAL OUSTER AND INTERRUPTION OF UTILITIES; MISDEMEANOR.
A landlord, an agent, or person acting under the landlord’s direction or control who unlawfully and intentionally removes or excludes a tenant from lands or tenements or intentionally interrupts or causes the interruption of electrical, heat, gas, or water services to the tenant with intent to unlawfully remove or exclude the tenant from lands or tenements is guilty of a misdemeanor. In any trial under this section, it shall be presumed that the landlord, agent, or other person acting under the landlord’s direction or control interrupted or caused the interruption of the service with intent to unlawfully remove or exclude the tenant from lands or tenements, if it is established by evidence that the landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the landlord’s direction or control intentionally interrupted or caused the interruption of the service to the tenant. The burden is upon the landlord to rebut the presumption.
The remedies provided in this section are in addition to and shall not limit other rights or remedies available to landlords and tenants. Any provision, whether oral or written, of any lease or other agreement, whereby any provision of this section is waived by a tenant, is contrary to public policy and void. The provisions of this section also apply to occupants and owners of residential real property which is the subject of a mortgage foreclosure or contract for deed cancellation and as to which the period for redemption or reinstatement of the contract has expired.
History:
History: History:
1999 c 199 art 1 s 26