Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Minnesota

Tenant breaks lease but other tenant stays in apt

My girlfriend and I signed a one year lease in August 2006. She moved out on January 28 2007 taking only some of her personal belongings. I took her apt keys before she left. I moved all of her personal belongings that she left behind into my landlords vacant apt next door (with his permission). She is now insisting that since her name is on the lease I will have to let her back into my apt so she can ''look around'' to be sure I gave her everything that belonged to her. I'm refusing to let her into my apt unless she pays her share of the rent (she owes me from Feb 1 to the end of our lease in Aug 2007). She says since her name is on the lease (regardless of whether she pays her share of the rent or not) she has a legal right to enter my apt. She said she will contact the landlord and have him open the apt for her. Am I obligated to let her into my apt? Is the landlord obligated to unlock the door for her to get into my apt? Can I take her to small claims court to recover her remaining share of the rent on the lease (her share equals $1837.50)? Can I refuse her entry into the apt and still recover her share of the rent she owes?

1 Answer from Attorneys

Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Minnesota

Looking for something else?