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Landlord- Tenant Handbook: Other Important Laws http: / /www. tenant. net /Other_Areas/Minnesota/hb4.html origin, sex, martial status, sexual or affectional orientation, disability, or reliance on public assistance. Minn. Stat. 4363.03, subd. (2)(a) (1992). (But there is an exception to this: an owner or occupier living in a one - family unit may refuse to rent part of the premises on the basis of sex, marital status, sexual or affectional orientation, disability, or reliance on public assistance). Minn. Stat. 4363.02, subd. (2)(b) (1992). Likewise, a landlord, for discriminatory reasons, cannot decrease services that have been promised in the lease. Minn. Stat. 4363.03, subd. (2)(b) (1992). It is also illegal for landlords to discriminate against people with children (this is also called "familial status "). But there are some important exceptions to this prohibition. Landlords can refuse to rent to persons with children when: 1. The vacancy is an owner- occupied house, duplex, triplex or four -plex. Minn. Stat. 4363.03, subd. 2 (1992). 2. The purpose of the building is to provide housing for elderly persons. To qualify for this second exemption the housing must: 1. Be provided under a state or federal program that is specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons. 2. Be intended for and solely occupied by persons 62 years of age or older. 3. Be intended and operated for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or older per unit. When this latter circumstance is met, there must also be significant facilities or services designed to meet the physical or social needs of the elderly (or provide important housing opportunities for the elderly), at least 80 percent of the units must be occupied by one person 55 years of age or older per unit, and there must be the publication of, and adherence to, policies and procedures that demonstrate an intent to provide such housing. Minn. Stat. 4363.02, subd. (2)(2)(b) (1992). Complaints about discrimination should be filed with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, 500 Bremer Building, 7th Place and Minnesota St., St. Paul, MN 55101; (612) 296 -5663, or toll free, 1- 800 - 657 -3704. In Minneapolis, St. Paul, and some other localities, such complaints may also be filed with municipal civil or human rights departments. Minn. Stat. §363 (1992). 27. HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE UNIT Minnesota law now requires that a disabled person, or a family with a disabled family member, must be given priority to handicapped- equipped rental housing. This law provides that if a non - disabled person, or a family that does not include a disabled person, is living in a handicapped - equipped unit, the owner must offer to rent a non - handicapped - equipped apartment to that person or family if: 1. A disabled person or a family with a disabled family member who will reside in the apartment has signed a rental agreement for the handicapped - equipped apartment. 2. A similar non - handicapped - equipped apartment in the same rental housing complex is available at the same rent. Minn. Stat. §363.033 (1992). The law requires that the owner must inform non - disabled people and families that do not include a disabled family member of the possibility of being offered a non - handicapped - equipped rental unit. This information must be provided before an agreement is made to rent an equipped unit. Minn. Stat. 4363.033 (1992). 28. LANDLORD DISCLOSURE Landlords must provide their tenants, in writing, with the name and address of: 7 of 9 10/31/99 7:37 PM