(h) In the case of home heating oil or propane, if the landlord has not paid the bill by the time of the tenant's intended payment, or if the service remains discontinued, the tenant or tenants may order and pay for one month's supply of the proper grade and quality of oil or propane.
(i) After submitting documentation to the landlord of the tenant's payment to the utility company or municipality, a tenant may deduct the amount of the tenant's payment to the utility company or municipality from the rental payment next paid to the landlord. Any amount paid to the municipality, utility company, or other company by a tenant under this subdivision is considered payment of rent to the landlord for purposes of section 504B.291.
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Subd. 14.Limitations; waiver prohibited; rights as additional.
The tenant rights under this section:
(1) do not extend to conditions caused by the willful, malicious, or negligent conduct of the tenant or of a person under the tenant's direction or control;
(2) may not be waived or modified; and
(3) are in addition to and do not limit other rights that may be available to the tenant in law or equity, including the right to damages and the right to restoration of possession of the premises under section 504B.291.
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Subd. 15.Additional requirement.
By September 30 of each year, a landlord of a shared-metered residential building who bills for gas, electric utility charges, or both separate from rent must inform tenants in writing of the possible availability of energy assistance from the low-income home energy assistance program. The information must contain the toll-free telephone number of the administering agency.
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Subd. 16.Violations.