Professional Association | Education

How MHA Delivers Fast, Minnesota-Specific Rental Housing Guidance With mihra

3,500+

Conversations

975

Users

Messages Per Conversation

97%

Content Coverage

The Challenge

The Minnesota Multi Housing Association (MHA) is the trade association for the state's rental housing industry, serving owners, operators, and property managers. Its members operate in one of the most regulated corners of business: Minnesota landlord-tenant law, eviction procedures, security deposits, screening criteria, and a shifting patchwork of city ordinances across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and beyond.

Getting timely access to relevant information used to mean digging through statutes or emailing MHA's small staff. That took time on both sides, and the stakes are high. A misstep on a notice or a fair housing issue can carry real consequences, so members need guidance that is accurate, current, and easy to act on.

The Solution

MHA partnered with Betty to launch mihra (their specialized AI assistant), with two versions that mirror how members access content: a public-facing mihra and a members-only portal mihra. mihra is grounded in MHA's own trusted content, including Minnesota statutes, city ordinances, MHA forms and guidance, and the Advocate.

Members can ask questions in plain language, receive sourced guidance grounded in MHA approved content, and draft resident communications with fair housing considerations in mind. mihra is anonymous by design, an intentional choice that lets members ask sensitive compliance questions freely. As laws change, MHA can update the knowledge base so mihra stays aligned with current Minnesota rental housing information.

Key Elements of Success

Minnesota-specific rental housing guidance. mihra's most-used content includes Minnesota landlord-tenant law, eviction notices, security deposits, fees, tenant privacy, and city-specific rules.
Practical drafting support. Many conversations involve drafting resident notices and emails with fair housing and communication best practices in mind, making mihra a daily working tool, not just a reference.
Stays current. As Minnesota laws and ordinances change, MHA can update the knowledge base so mihra stays aligned with current information.
Privacy-first and well-guarded. mihra is anonymous and built with guardrails, the right posture for compliance-sensitive questions in a heavily regulated industry.
3,500+ conversations with 975+ users across the public and member versions.
Members average 3 messages per conversation on the member instance, a sign they engage deeply with mihra while still getting the timely answers they need.
97% content coverage on the member instance, so mihra answers nearly every question directly from MHA's own content.
Roughly half of member conversations involve drafting resident communications, notices, and emails; on the public side it is about a quarter.
Top topics map to real operator needs: eviction notices, security deposit interest, tenant privacy, prohibited fees, screening criteria, ESA verification, and city ordinances.
Feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and MHA staff review questions regularly to keep mihra sharp.

The Results

mihra has become a trusted daily resource for MHA members and a meaningful relief valve for staff time.

Strong adoption and standout engagement

A daily working tool, not just a lookup

Built for trust

In an industry where compliance matters, mihra's guardrails help members ask sensitive questions while keeping the tool focused on sourced information and guidance. Reviewing what members ask also shows MHA where to add or update content, keeping the knowledge base aligned with what the field needs.

Looking Ahead

With mihra established as a go-to resource, MHA's focus is on deepening its value:

Reducing staff time spent answering routine member questions.
Keeping mihra's knowledge current as Minnesota laws and city ordinances evolve.
Exploring ways to turn public-instance usage into membership interest.