St. Paul voters approve rent deduction rule for unrepaired housing issues

St. Paul residents voted on Thursday to adopt a right-to-repair ordinance, with nearly 80 percent of the electorate supporting the measure. The new rule grants tenants the financial ability to offset housing costs when landlords fail to address maintenance issues within a set timeframe.

Under the approved text, renters may claim a reduction in their monthly rent or a direct reimbursement for specific repairs. The financial cap is set at the higher of $500 or half of the monthly rent. Before executing a fix, a tenant must provide the landlord with two weeks written notice, creating a window for the property owner to schedule and complete the work themselves.

Cole Hanson, a leader with the Safe Homes St. Paul coalition that championed the initiative, described the campaign as a direct response to long-standing neglect. He noted that many residents had waited years for basic fixes, ranging from accessibility modifications to simple garage door repairs. Hanson characterized the door-to-door effort as a straightforward appeal to neighbors who wanted tangible control over their living conditions.

The path to the ballot was contested. The City of St. Paul initially opposed the measure, arguing that the language was overly broad and potentially conflicted with existing state statutes. Courts intervened to keep the measure on the ballot, and the city has now indicated it will not pursue further litigation. A city spokesperson stated that officials are currently reviewing the implementation details and that the ordinance will take effect once the results are certified.

Cecil Smith, president of the Minnesota Multi Housing Association, expressed concern over the operational risks of the new rule. He worries that the two-week timeline is too short for complex projects and that individual tenants might attempt risky repairs that should be handled by professionals. Smith stated that he is concerned one individual taking this upon themselves could endanger the welfare, even the lives, of other residents.

Supporters counter that the rule still requires licensed professionals to perform complicated fixes. They point to Duluth, where a similar measure passed without a surge in problems. In that city, a tenants group worked with 29 renters who issued notices; in every instance, the landlord completed the repair before the tenant had to act.

Lily Boehland-Goeden, who campaigned for the right-to-repair measure last year, used the framework to resolve an issue in her second-story apartment. She demanded window screens to feel safe and threatened to install them herself if the landlord did not act. The landlord completed the work within the two-week window. Boehland-Goeden said the process would have been helpful in a previous lease, where she waited for steps to be stabilized while on crutches.

The St. Paul City Council is barred from amending the ordinance for at least one year following its approval. This lockout period prevents local legislators from altering the text during the initial phase of its implementation.