What you need to know with rental housing rights

When it’s August, it’s 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 rented for years, or their new lease is the first contract they have ever signed, they still have legal rights and responsibilities.

That’s why the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), is here to help understand those rights and responsibilities.

In 2022, consumers filed 1,912 complaints, when disputes between landlords and tenants could not be resolved between each other, making it the DATCP’s top complaint category last year.

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 personal records.

Make sure the new landlord shares the contact information, including the name and address of a person who can be contacted, regarding maintenance problems. Landlords must provide this information at the start of tenancy.

Reread the lease thoroughly, to understand what is required. Make note of what utilities the renter is responsible for paying, what repairs and property maintenance they’re expected to fulfill, and when the landlord is authorized to enter the unit.

Ask the landlord for a preliminary walkthrough of the housing unit before the final checkout. This will help assess what needs to be cleaned or repaired, to avoid security deposit deductions.

Take detailed photos of the property during the final walkthrough to document the condition in which it was left. Provide the landlord with the new address to receive a security deposit promptly.

The security deposit must be returned within 21 days after the end of the rental agreement, except for any amounts withheld for damage, waste or neglect. Any withholdings must be itemized for the renter’s review.

To learn more, visit LandlordTenant. wi.gov. This free online guide helps ensure both parties in a rental housing transaction understand their obligations to each other.