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Minnesota Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell

In Minnesota, a landlord who wants to enter or show an occupied rental during a sale must give the tenant reasonable written notice of at least 24 hours before entry, and this guide explains how to meet that rule cleanly. Our AI builder drafts a compliant Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell in minutes, with attorney-review available before you deliver it.

Introduction

So you're getting ready to sell your Minnesota rental, and you have a tenant. What are your obligations? Minnesota law sets clear rules you have to follow. The big one: you must give tenants enough advance written notice before entering the property for anything sale-related. This guide walks you through doing that the right way. You can also use our AI-powered generator to create a notice that meets Minnesota's standards and lowers your legal risk during the sale.

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Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    Minnesota Statute § 504B.211 says a landlord must give 'reasonable notice' before entering an occupied unit. In practice that means at least 24 hours' advance written notice for any sales-related showing.

  2. 2

    Selling or transferring the property doesn't void a fixed-term lease. The new owner takes it subject to the existing lease and must honor every term until it ends.

  3. 3

    To end a month-to-month tenancy as part of a sale, you have to serve written notice. The notice period must be at least as long as the time between rent payments, or three months, whichever is less.

  4. 4

    After closing, the seller passes the tenant's security deposit to the new owner. The tenant then has to get the new owner's name and address in writing, so accountability stays clear.

  5. 5

    Keep careful records. A dated copy of the notice you served and solid proof you delivered it are what protect you if anyone later claims the notice was improper.

  6. 6

    Every entry has to happen during reasonable hours. That rule exists to protect the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment and privacy in their home.

  7. 7

    Minnesota doesn't offer an official template for a Notice of Intent to Sell. It's entirely on the landlord to draft or find a written notice that meets every applicable state statute.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell in Minnesota, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell guide walks through them.

Open the Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell guide

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Minnesota: Notice to Tenant of Intent to Sell Property

Effective Date of Notice: ______________________

To Tenant(s): ______________________

Premises Address: ______________________, Minnesota, ZIP ____________

From Landlord/Owner: ______________________

Contact for Scheduling: ______________________

1. Notice of Intent to Sell

This is a formal, legally binding notice. It tells you that the owner of the rental property above has started the process of selling it. The purpose is to meet Minnesota's rules for landlords and tenants during a sale. It sets clear steps for property access and confirms that your rights under your current lease stay in place the whole way through. This is not a notice to end your lease unless a separate, proper notice says so.

2. Your Existing Lease

The sale, on its own, does not change or end your fixed-term lease. The buyer takes the property subject to every term and condition of your lease. The new owner must honor all of it, including the rent amount and lease length, until the lease runs out. If you rent month-to-month, the current landlord can still end the tenancy by giving a separate written notice. Under Minnesota law, that notice period must be at least as long as the time between rent payments, or three months, whichever is less. That timeline is required.

3. Access to the Property

Under Minnesota Statute § 504B.211, the landlord or their authorized agents (such as real estate agents or inspectors) may enter the property for legitimate business tied to the sale. That includes showing it to possible buyers, appraisers, and inspectors. But this right of entry depends on the landlord giving you "reasonable notice" first. In Minnesota, reasonable notice means at least 24 hours. We will give this notice in writing before every scheduled entry, with the date and a reasonable time window for the visit. All entries will happen during reasonable business hours to keep disruption to a minimum. Your cooperation is required.

4. Your Duties Stay the Same

Through the whole sale and marketing period, your obligations under the lease stay fully in force. You need to keep paying rent on the usual due dates to the current landlord. That continues until you get a written notice after the sale closes, telling you who the new owner is and how to pay rent going forward. All other parts of your lease, like upkeep and community rules, also still apply. Not meeting these terms can lead to legal action, separate from the sale. If anything about paying rent during this period is unclear, reach out to the scheduling contact listed at the top of this notice.

5. Transfer of Security Deposit

Signature: ______________________ Date: ____________

This document is a template for general information and is not legal advice. We strongly recommend a review by a qualified attorney to ensure full compliance.

Generate a compliant Minnesota notice using our tools at (/legal-document/notice-to-tenants-of-intent-to-sell).

Minnesota Requirements for Notice to Tenants of Intent to Sell

24-Hour Advance Entry Notice

Before showing the occupied unit to buyers, the landlord must give the tenant reasonable notice, generally considered to be at least 24 hours in advance, as required by Minnesota Statute § 504B.211.

Month-to-Month Termination Timing

To end a month-to-month tenancy, written notice must be at least as long as the interval between rent payments or three months, whichever is less. A sale does not shorten this required period.

Written Notice Requirement

Since Minnesota has no official state form, landlords must provide a clear written notice detailing the intent to sell and outlining the procedures for entry that comply with state law.

Preservation of Existing Lease

A property sale does not automatically terminate a fixed-term lease; the new owner takes the property subject to the existing agreement and must honor its terms until expiration.

Reasonable Time and Manner of Entry

All entries for showings, appraisals, and inspections must occur at reasonable times, typically normal business hours, and be conducted in a way that respects the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment.

Proof of Delivery

The landlord must maintain a dated copy of the delivered notice and proof of service (e.g., a certificate of mailing or signed acknowledgment) to defend against any future disputes over proper notification.

Security Deposit Transfer

The landlord is required to transfer the tenant's security deposit to the new owner upon sale and must inform the tenant of the new owner's name and address.

Good Faith Communication

Landlords must act in good faith throughout the sale process, which includes providing clear, timely communication regarding showings and respecting the tenant's rights and privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before I walk buyers through, Minnesota's entry law, Minn. Stat. Section 504B.211, expects reasonable written notice, which courts read as at least 24 hours. That step is not optional in practice: if I skip it, my tenant is within their rights to turn me and the buyers away at the door.

No. The moment I sell, the buyer inherits the lease exactly as written, rent and end date included. They become my tenant's landlord and are bound to the original terms until the lease runs its course. The agreement outlives the change in ownership.

Minnesota publishes no official form for this, so drafting the notice falls to me. I put it in writing, keep it clear and businesslike, and make sure it actually reaches my tenant. A homemade letter is perfectly valid as long as it is well written and properly delivered.

My tenant cannot unreasonably block a showing once I have given proper notice, which under Minn. Stat. Section 504B.211 means at least 24 hours in writing. The flip side matters too: if I never send that advance notice, my tenant has every right to refuse me entry.

A sale gives me the option to end a month-to-month tenancy, but I have to do it by the book. Minn. Stat. Section 504B.135 requires written notice to vacate that runs at least one full rental interval or three months, whichever is less. The sale does not shorten that.

The notice carries three essentials: a straightforward statement that I am selling, an explanation of how showings get scheduled in cooperation with my tenant, and reassurance that a lease locked into a fixed term survives the transaction and binds whoever buys the property.

This paperwork should reach my tenant through a method that creates a dated record of receipt. I can personally hand over the document, mail it certified with a return receipt card, or follow the notice procedure written into our lease, each of which produces a verifiable trail.

The deposit changes hands right along with the keys at closing, passing from me to the person purchasing the property. That new owner then shoulders the job of safeguarding the funds and eventually giving them back to my tenant once the tenancy comes to a close.