Pushing renters out that will not apply for rent help in MN

[Mark K.]

Does anyone here have an idea on best approach to deal with renters here in MN that claim to have applied for rent assistance but have not? We are looking to file an eviction but the rules here in MN now state that we cant do so for reasons of unpaid rent if they have applied for assistance through RENTHELPMN. Our thought is that when we take them to court they will just say they applied. If they have then they will have a pending application and we cannot evict until next June. We are quite certain they have not applied but I have been offered the opinion that the judge will simply side with them if they say they have because the judge will be too worried about approving an eviction that could turn out to be illegal and worried about his/her re-election if they are looked at negatively for doing so.