August is one of Wisconsin’s busiest months for landlords and tenants, especially in college towns as students move into and out of rental properties throughout the state. Whether a tenant has been renting for years, or their new lease is the first contract they have ever signed, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is here to help them remember their legal rights and responsibilities.
Tenants can access DATCP’s “Tenants’ Rights and Responsibilities” fact sheet online for an overview of common rental housing issues including security deposits, rent increases, property maintenance, and more. For more details on these and other related topics, DATCP’s “Landlord-Tenant Guide” is accessible at LandlordTenant.wi.gov. This free online guide helps ensure both parties in a rental housing transaction understand their obligations to each other.
In 2022, consumers filed 1,912 complaints when disputes between landlords and tenants could not be resolved between each other, making it DATCP’s top complaint category last year.
Tips for Moving In
If a security deposit is required, tenants have seven days after the start of tenancy to inspect the premises and notify the landlord of any defects by returning a check-in sheet. Take photos of any damages, submit copies of the photos with the sheet, and keep a copy of all these materials for your own records.
Source: wi.gov
Photo Credit: gettyimages-frankvandenbergh
Categories: Wisconsin, General