Tristan’s Landlord-Tenant Law Blog
Newly Revised 5-Day Notice To Pay Rent or Vacate Now Available at Wisconsin Legal Blank
As many of you know I am the author of the set of Landlord-Tenant forms that are sold at Wisconsin Legal Blank Co., Inc. I am currently in the process of reviewing and updating all of the L-T forms as well as creating a few new ones. At this time however, I wanted to alert you that the revised 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate is now available for sale at ...
The Importance of Using Written Screening Criteria During The Tenant Selection Process
UPDATE - APRIL 15, 2016 ---- Please review my April 15, 2016 blog post on HUD's new guidance regarding the consideration of a rental applicant's criminal history in the screening process as it may impact or alter the information in this blog post.Those of you that have attended one of my landlord-tenant law seminars or read my prior posts on screening tenants know that in my opinion the ...
Free Landlord-Tenant Law Seminar To Be Held On October 24, 2009
On Saturday October 24, 2009 from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm at the UWM Union Ballroom the UW-Milwaukee COAST and the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services will be offering a free landlord-tenant law seminar to the public. This seminar is NOT restricted to just landlords and tenants in the UW-M area.On behalf of the AASEW, I will be presenting a portion of the seminar on the topics ...
UPDATE ON MILWAUKEE'S PROPOSED MANDATORY RENTAL UNIT INSPECTION PROGRAM
A friend of mine was at a meeting this morning with the City of Milwaukee's Budget Director and learned some more information on the City's proposed mandatory rental unit inspection program.First, the proposed ordinance is in the final stages of drafting and will be released in the near future.Second, it will be a 5 year pilot program in the UWM area only.Third, there will be a fee of $40 per ...
One Person's Attempt To Spread The Word About Milwaukee's Proposed Mandatory Rental Inspection Program (a.k.a "Landlord Licensing")
A fellow attorney friend of mine forwarded a pamphlet/flyer/handout that he saw on the east side of Milwaukee. The UWM area is where the city plan's to begin its mandatory interior inspections of rental units (a.k.a "Landlord Licensing") program assuming that the ordinance is passed by the common council. The handout should definitely make tenants living in that area give some thought to the city's latest attempt to infringe upon their rights. The ...
Public Hearing on AB 340 (Proposal to Restrict CCAP Access and Information) to Be Held on October 1, 2009 in Madison
For those of you following my blog, you are well aware of my thoughts on State Rep. Marlin Schneider's new legislative proposal to restrict access to and limiting information contained on CCAP (Consolidated Cort Automation Programs). Schneider's proposed legislation is referred to as AB (Assembly Bill) 340.In fact, Patrick McIlheran of the Milwaukee Jornal Sentinel just wrote an article that addressed how AB 340 will hurt landlords.AB ...
WTMJ News Radio Discusses Proposed Legislation That Will Restrict Access To and Limit Information Contained on CCAP on Charlie Sykes Radio Show
Thursday, September 17, 2009 was quite a good PR day for landlords. Not only did the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel commentator Pat McIlheran publish a very good article criticizing the state and the city of Milwaukee for not treating landlords like second class citizens but later that same morning Charlie Sykes spent a good amount of time discussing something near and dear to a landlord's heart -- CCAPSykes spent a large portion of his ...
"Landlords Feel The Loathing" - Accurate Article On Landlords' Plight Published in Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Today
Several weeks ago I received a telephone call from Journal Sentinel reporter Patrick McIlheran. Mr. McIlheran told me that someone had referred him to my blog and after reading some of the posts that he wanted to speak with me as he was in the process of putting together a piece about how the state and the city seem to make the business of landlording more and more difficult. I was more than ...
DON'T MISS AASEW'S 10th ANNUAL LANDLORD TRADESHOW THIS WEDNESDAY (9-16-09)
The Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin (AASEW) is hosting its 10th Annual Tradeshow this Wednesday, September 16, 2009, from 12 noon - 7 pm. If you are a rental propertyowner, manager or investor you will not want to miss this FREE tradeshowIt will be held at Serb Hall which is located at 5101 W. Oklanhoma Avenue.The admission is FREE.Food and snacks will be offerred.Many vendors that support the ...
Why Milwaukee's Mandatory Rental Inspection Program (a.k.a. "Landlord Licensing") Is Not Needed and Is A Bad Idea.
Here are a few of the reasons why the City of Milwaukee's soon-to-be proposed ordinance requiring mandatory rental inspections (a.k.a. "Landlord Licensing") should not be passed.For more background information on this proposed new ordinance please read my earlier post entitled " Milwaukee To Propose Landlord Licensing and Mandatory Interior Inspections of Rental Property." There Are Better Ways To Spend Milwaukee’s Limited Money - The ...
Milwaukee to Propose Landlord Licensing and Mandatory Interior Inspections of Rental Property
The city of Milwaukee is planning on introducing a new ordinance that will require rental property owners in certain parts of the city to license their rental properties and submit to mandatory interior inspections by the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS).Many of the AASEW board members have been having regular monthly meetings with the new DNS Commissioner Art Dahlberg. During a recent meeting Mr. Dahlberg informed us that in ...
MILWAUKEE CO. SMALL CLAIMS COURT'S NEW POLICY REGARDING WHO MAY APPEAR IN COURT ON BEHALF OF A LLC WENT INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1st.
I was attending the regular monthly meeting of Milwauke RING (Real Estate Investors Networking Group) last night and during the "open mic" portion of the meeting I reminded everyone that Milwaukee County Small Claims Court's new policy regarding who may appear in court (i.e. sign court documents and appear in court) went into effect yesterday, September 1, 2009. As I was walking back to my seat two people asked me ...
SUING AN EX-TENANT FOR PAST DUE RENT: What Factors To Consider
Your tenant has already vacated your rental unit - so there is no need to file an eviction action -- but they left owing you money. Is it worth your time and effort to sue them in order to obtain a money judgment? This is probably the third most frequently asked question that I receive when talking to landlords (the first two most asked questions in case you are curious ...
How To Legally Serve A 5-Day Notice To Pay Rent or Vacate
There are basically 4 ways in which you can legally serve a tenant with a 5-Day Notice To Pay Rent or Vacate. First, you can personally serve the tenant with the notice. Second, you can serve them by what I refer to as a "substituted" service. Third, you can "post and mail" the notice to the tenant. Fourth, you can serve the tenant via certified or registered mail.Landlords in Wisconsin are legally allowed ...
AASEW Has New Online Forum at MeetUp.com
The Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin (AASEW) has recently joined MeetUp.com. Registration and participation is free.Below is the introductory message by AASEW Board member and organizer, Tim Ballering:Welcome to the Apartment Association of Southeastern WI. Thank you for joining our MeetUp group.Our objective is to help members become more successful landlords, investors and managers.We are the oldest and largest landlord group in Southeastern WI. Members include many larger ...
SSN Validator: Free Website That Allows You to Verify A Social Security Number
I attended last night's AASEW monthly meeting which featured Kathy Huens of Landlord Services, LLC as the main speaker. Landlord Services, LLC is a company that provides credit reports to landlords to assist them in the screening process of rental applicants. Landlord Services, LLC is a business member of the AASEW and comes highly reccomended. During Kathy's speech she alerted the audience to a website that allows you to ...
AASEW'S Annual Landlord Tradeshow To Be Held On September 16th at Serb Hall
The Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin's (AASEW) 10th Annual Landlord Tradeshow and Seminar will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 from 12 noon - 7 pm at American Serb Hall (5101 W. Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee).Admission is free for rental property owners and potential owners. Free food and snacks will be offerred. This is a great event for landlords, future landlords, property managers, real estate investors, and anyone ...
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8 Rent Assistance) Are Not A "Lawful Source of Income" In Wisconsin
I am often asked whether or not a landlord is able to legally decline to rent to a tenant that is receiving "rent assistance." I believe that the primary reason that landlords are unsure of the answer to this question is because Wisconsin's Open Housing Act (Sec. 106.50, Wis. Stats.) prohibits a landlord from discriminating against a tenant or a prospective tennat based on their "lawful source of income." For more information on Wisconsin's protected ...
New Bill To Be Introduced Requiring Landlords to Change Locks For Tenants In Cases Of Domestic Violence
A new bill that would require a landlord to change locks for a tenant in cases of domestic violence is being shopped around for additional sponsors. State Rep. Dexter and Senator Holperin have drafted a proposed bill, which has not yet been introduced, which would allegedly protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking by requiring landlords to change the locks of the victim's apartment unit within 48 hours if certain conditions ...
Worthless Check Diversion Program: An Opportunity To Collect On "Bad Checks"
The Miwaukee County District Attorneys Office has adopted a new program that will hopefully allow landlords to collect on bad checks that were passed by their tenants. The goal of the program is to get the bad-check writers to pay back the money owed in exchange for not being charged with a crime or referred to collections.This program, entitled the Worthless Check Diversion Program, is a positive step for landlords because currently ...