Wish You Knew What Your Duplex Tenants Were Saying? Finding Out May Cost You

Did you know it is illegal to record oral communications of anyone who enters your duplex without their consent?

Minnesota Statute 626A.02 prohibits the interception of oral communications between two parties without one of them giving prior consent.

While this language has been included in the state’s listing contract for years, I recently had it come up when the tenant in one of my client’s properties informed us she would be recording all who entered. As it is a state law, it extends to everyone in the property, not just the owners.

If you’ve thought about recording activity in the common areas of your building, repair people when they enter, or even Realtors and their clients as they walk through, it’s important to abide by the statute. Fines for violating the statute can be as high as $20,000!