If Your Minneapolis or St Paul Duplex Has A Rental License Do You Need A TISH?

If you own a duplex in Minneapolis or St Paul, you are required to have a Truth In Sale of Housing (TISH) inspection no later than three days after the property has gone on the market for sale.

Many would-be duplex sellers believe that a rental license inspection and its resulting certificate of occupancy means a TISH isn’t necessary. This is both right and wrong.

All single-family homes, townhouses, first-time condominium conversions and duplexes are required to have a TISH report when sold.

In the city of St Paul, however, a valid Certificate of Code Compliance or Certificate of Occupancy may be substituted for a TISH report. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued when the city fire marshal has inspected the property and deemed it safe to be rented. The certificate is valid for one year from the date of issuance, so of course, the sale must happen within that time frame. If a duplex is being sold to an immediate family member, however, a TISH is not required for the title of the property to transfer.

The city of Minneapolis, however, sees things differently. A certificate of occupancy resulting from a rental license inspection may NOT be used in lieu of a TISH report.  Only properties with a Certificate of Code Compliance issued once the property has come out of condemned status, or a new construction property that has just received its Certificate of Occupancy or exemption.

So in other words, if you’re a St Paul housing provider it may cost you a little bit less to sell your property than it might in Minneapolis.