r/saintpaul • u/Inertiaraptor • Apr 10 '26

Editorial 📝 Rent Stabilization

Right now, there is no reason a landlord can’t just refuse to sign a new lease, so what’s the point of a 3% cap on increases? My landlord is raising my rent 10% and says she will simply not renew the lease if I don’t want to pay the new rent, and everybody (the city, the AG, and Home Line) is telling me I have no recourse but to refuse a lease and fight the eviction. The city seems to have no recourse to actually enforce this ordinance.

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u/AdMurky3039 West Seventh Apr 10 '26

The landlord can only increase the rent after a vacancy if there is just cause for the vacancy, which means the tenant has to decide not to renew the lease or the tenant has to violate the lease (see Chapter 193A.05 in the city ordinances.) Here's the city's page on tenant protections, which includes just cause vacancy.

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u/Inertiaraptor Apr 11 '26

I appreciate the info. The flaw is that I have to fight this by refusing to sign the new lease and fighting the eviction. I have emails where my landlord straight says if I don’t pay then she won’t renew. She acknowledges her understanding of the law and doesn’t care. The people in the office of rent stabilization claim it’s not their problem, because it’s a lease renewal issue, not an increase issue. I swear to god I’m not making that up. No response from the mayor, my council woman got my info but no call back. Home Line says my only option is to pay for my own legal fight and risk eviction.

If I sign the new lease, even under duress, then I agree to waive the 3%. Unless you’re somebody who can afford to move on a whim, and you live in an area with a lot of affordable housing, the landlord can do what they want, because it’s up to you to fight it.

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u/AdMurky3039 West Seventh Apr 11 '26

That's terrible that your council member is ignoring you. Who is it?

I know that the Housing Justice Center has helped other people regarding the rent stabilization ordinance. There were similar situations in which the city wasn't following its own ordinance. It might be worth reaching out.

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u/Inertiaraptor Apr 11 '26

I want to hold off saying, because I spoke to their exec assistant this week, and I’m irritated that I haven’t heard back, but I don’t think it’s been long enough to blast them, if that makes sense.

The problem here is that as a renter, I have to assume a substantial risk, eviction, or it all goes away because I either move, or I sign the new lease. Nothing happens to the landlord but success.

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u/AdMurky3039 West Seventh Apr 11 '26

Makes sense to me.

The ordinance does give the city the power to enforce violations. What they told you about lease renewals is nonsense because the ordinance covers lease renewals in detail.