The Return of the Minneapolis TOPA Zombie

Like a Zombie in a horror move, TOPA is back in Minneapolis even though we thought it was dead..

TOPA stands for Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most talked-about housing issues in the November 4, 2025 Minneapolis municipal election.

TOPA gives tenants the first right to purchase the property they’re renting if the owner decides to sell. In other words, before you could accept an offer from another buyer, you’d have to give your tenants the chance to buy it themselves—often in partnership with a nonprofit or community land trust.

And if it’s anything like this ordinance in Washington, D.C., if the tenants choose not to purchase the property, housing providers may have to pay them off to put it in writing!

The stated goal is to prevent displacement and keep housing affordable. But from a landlord’s perspective, it can also mean added layers of paperwork, delays, and uncertainty during the sale process.

Advocates say it’s about equity and stabilizing communities. Critics say it could chill investment and discourage small property owners from entering or staying in the market.

Tenant and housing groups have been pushing for a Minneapolis TOPA ordinance for years, and they’ve renewed their efforts this fall. Rallies, letters to council members, and “Right to Purchase” campaigns have made it clear—this issue isn’t going away.

Advocates are hoping to see a vote before the new City Council takes office in January 2026. But the reality is, whether TOPA moves forward may depend on who wins in November.

This year’s election isn’t just about the mayor’s office—it’s also about all 13 City Council seats, two at-large seats on the Board of Estimate and Taxation, and the entire Park & Recreation Board.

Housing affordability and tenant protections are at the top of nearly every candidate’s platform, and TOPA has become a litmus test for where they stand on renters’ rights versus property-owner flexibility.

Many progressive council hopefuls—particularly in Wards 5, 6, and 9—are voicing strong support for TOPA, arguing it’s a tool to help renters “build wealth through ownership.”

Others have been more cautious, pointing out that while the idea sounds good in theory, financing logistics are murky. After all, even if tenants get first dibs, coming up with the down payment and management capacity to own a multifamily property is no small feat.

From time to time, current mayor and candidate Jacob Frey has vetoed proposals from the council that would have proved disastrous for housing providers and their residents. There seems to be an organized effort by the other mayoral candidates to defeat him.

Remember, elections have consequences. And sometimes that means the monster comes back from the dead to take one more stab at destroying the world.

Vote. It matters.