Here is a great post written by Matt Engel regarding if a Notice To Quit is required prior to filing an eviction on your a tenant.

A Notice to Quit would be required in a “tenancy-at-will” situation, which means there is no fixed ending date, or the lease has expired and is now month-to month.  Minn. Stat. 504B.001 defines tenancy at will: “Tenancy at will means a tenancy in which the tenant holds possession by permission of the landlord but without a fixed ending date.”

In such cases, this is what Minnesota law says about terminating tenancy at will:

504B.135 TERMINATING TENANCY AT WILL.

(a) A tenancy at will may be terminated by either party by giving notice in writing. The time of the notice must be at least as long as the interval between the time rent is due or three months, whichever is less.

(b) If a tenant neglects or refuses to pay rent due on a tenancy at will, the landlord may terminate the tenancy by giving the tenant 14 days notice to quit in writing.

Notice must be given in writing that the tenancy will be terminated on a certain date, and should state that if the tenant does not vacate by that date, an eviction action will be pursued. The notice should be drafted with a termination date pursuant to the applicable time period from section (a) or (b) of Minn. Stat. 504B.135 – the interval between time rent is due (typically 1 month or up to three months), or if termination is for non payment of rent, 14 days.

Here is some sample language for written notice terminating tenancy at will:

• The purpose of this written notice is to terminate your tenancy at will.  Please be advised that your tenancy will be terminated on ___________  ____, 2010, [14] [30] [60] [90] days from the date of this notice, pursuant to Minn. Stat. 504B.135.  If you do not vacate by this date, an eviction action will be pursued in ___________ County Housing Court to have you removed from the property.

I suggest the written notice be sent to the tenant via certified mail, return receipt requested, as well as a second copy by regular mail, mailed at the same time.  In case the certified mail is returned for refusal to sign or failure to pick-up, you’ve also sent the written notice via regular mail to the tenant’s address – save the return receipt, if returned, or the refused certified letter, which will be returned to you – for the court hearing.

After the notice to quit time period has expired, and if the tenant still does not vacate, then an eviction action would be required to remove the tenant.  Eviction action hearings are typically set 14 days from date of filing the Eviction Action Complaint.  The Eviction Action Complaint must be served on the tenant at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing via personal service with affidavit under the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure (by a third party not a party to the action), and if personal service cannot be made, the process server can complete service by posting on the property after two failed attempts, and then completing an Affidavit of Not Found and Posting.  See Minn. Stat. 504B.331.

Matt Engel

The Engel Firm, PLLC

Union Plaza

333 Washington Avenue North

Suite 300

Minneapolis, MN 55401

W: 612-373-7060

F: 612-465-6211

C: 612-385-0554