Tristan’s Landlord-Tenant Law Blog
Landlords Will Be Required To Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Single Family and Duplex Rentals
A new bill was recently passed by the Wisconsin Senate that will require landlords that rent out single-family homes and duplexes to install carbon monoxide detectors on all floors of these dwellings by Febraury 1, 2011.Senate Bill 415 was passed 69-27 via voice vote after the Assembly previously passed the bill by a 2/3's margin. You can read the entire history of the bill here. It is anticipated ...
Is This The End of Seller Financing For Rental Properties?
I have received this same information from my contacts at the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc. (AASEW) and Milwaukee Real Estate Investors Networking Group (RING). If you would ever like to be able to obtain seller financing for your next rental property or if you would like to be the seller that finances the sale of your rental property to some young landlord in the future ...
LANDLORD BOOT CAMP: Only 4 Open Seats Remain
UPDATE 2/17/10 - WE ARE AT FULL CAPACITY FOR LANDLORD BOOT CAMP ON 2/27/10. If you are interested in attending please contact Paulette at (414) 276-7378 or paulette@apartmentassoc.org and she will put your name on a "waiting list" and contact you should a seat become available. Thank You T ________________________________________________________ We had a great AASEW ...
Landlords Should Attend EPA Lead Renovation Meeting On Feb. 15th
The Bad News: Those of you who have been following along on this list have heard about the new EPA Law, beginning April 22, 2010, that regulates any renovation work that disturbs 6 sq. ft. or more of paint per room, 20 sq. ft. or more of exterior paint, or involves windows. This law specifically includes rental property owners, management companies and their employees. Your workers and company ...
AASEW's Traders' Corner To Be Introduced on Feb. 15th, Prior to Monthly Membership Meeting.
The AASEW is constantly striving to make our monthly membership meetings more interactive, informative, and fun for our members. Toward that end, we have formed a committee comprised of 3 board members (Alan Rusk, Kim Queen & John Coons) to explore and suggest ideas to improve the AASEW's monthly meetings. Our attendence has been up over the past year and we want to maintain (and even increase) this trend.The first of ...
Wisc. Legal Blank Co.'s New & Improved Residential Rental Agreement Is Now Available.
I wanted to alert anyone that is currently using the Residential Rental Agreement that is sold at Wisconsin Legal Blank Co, Inc. (and even those of you who don't : ) that the new and improved version is now available ans is being sold at WLB.I completed the revisions to the updated Agreement last week. The new version indicates a revision date of 1/4/10 whereas the prior version had a ...
CCAP Bill Amended to Allow Landlords Full Access; Possibly Going to Assembly for Vote
As many of you know who have been following my updates on the ever evolving attempts by Marlin Schneider to restrict access to CCAP - Mr. Schneider has again amended his proposed bill. The bill is now called Assembly Bill 663 but it is practically the same as the amended AB 340. Why the change in the bill number I have not a clue.AB 663 was ...
Did Your Tenant Write You A Worthless Check? Consider New Restitution Program
One of my earliest blog posts, back when I had just started Tristan's Landlord-Tenant Law Blog, was about the fact that the City of Milwaukee Police Department had a policy in place where they refused to investigate crimes in which a tenant made their rent payment with a worthless check or stopped payment on the check. Shortly thereafter I wrote about a new diversion program that was being ...
LANDLORD BOOT CAMP: Everything You Need To Know About Residential Landlord-Tenant Law in WI
I will be presenting an all-day seminar on residential landlord tenant law in Wisconsin for the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc. (AASEW). The seminar is entitled "Landlord Boot Camp" and will take place on Saturday, February 27, 2010 from approx. 8:30 am - 5 pm at the Clarion Hotel located at 5311 S. Howell Avenue in Milwaukee. The cost will be $159 for AASEW members ...
Milwaukee's New Vacant Building Registration Ordinance Is Here
I need to apologize. I have spent much of my time these last several months following and providing information about the city of Milwaukee's new Residential Rental Inspection ordinance and as such I have inadvertantly failed to let everyone know about another of Milwaukee's new ordinances that will affect rental property owners. I was talking with a client of mine last week prior to the 1:30 pm eviction return calandar in small claims ...
City of Milwaukee's Rental Rehab Program Offers Investors Funds to Rehabilitate Foreclosed Properties
In an effort to rid itself of the many abandoned and foreclosed properties throughout the city, Milwaukee's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Rental Rehab Program will provide investors and landlords with financial assistance to rehabilitate foreclosed homes.According to the flyer that I was given, responsible investor owners and landlords who purchase foreclosed homes in the city of Milwaukee may be eligible for forgivable loans of up to $17,500 per unit (or ...
What May A Wisconsin Landlord Legally Deduct From A Tenant’s Security Deposit?
I have received many calls from both landlords and managers over the years asking me if they are legally allowed to deduct X, Y, or Z from a tenant’s security deposit. I fielded such a question just last week – sounds like a good topic for a blog post.Wisconsin Administrative Code, ATCP 134.06(3) states that a landlord may deduct from a tenant’s security deposit for the following:1. Damage, waste, ...
City of Milwaukee Releases Its 2010 Schedule of Special Sessions for The Landlord Training Program
The City of Milwaukee has just released its 2010 Schedule of Special Sessions for The Landlord Training Program. The focus of these 5 special seminars will be on learning how to effectively and professionally manage your rental properties. All of the sessions will take place on Saturday mornings to allow those of you who work an additional job (aside from being a landlord) to attend.I am very honored to have ...
DNS Has Started To Implement The New Residential Rental Certificate Program
As many of you know the City of Milwaukee's new Residential Rental Certificate Program ordinance went into effect January 1, 2010. It is my understanding that the letter notices, along with a date for the inspection of your rental unit/s, the application, were all mailed out to affected landlords during the week of Dec. 28th -- so those of you in the two designated areas should have received your mailing by now - Merry Christmas.In anticipation ...
Landlords Should Not Play Games With Tenants' Security Deposits
A new landlord-tenant decision has been reccomended for publication. The case of Boelter v. Tschantz involves a tenant suing her past landlord for double damages and attorney’s fees for making improper deductions from her security deposit. The essential facts are as follows:1. Tschantz (the landlord) withheld money from the tenant's security deposit.2. The key deductions that were made were: (1) $323.84 for the tenant's water bill and (2) $85 to repair ...
Oral Arguments On Important Landlord Case To Be Heard on January 6, 2010
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case of Maryland Arms L.P. v. Connell on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. This is a very important case for landlords as the decision will affect a landlord's ability to contract with his/her tenant.You can learn what the case is about by reviewing my earlier posts from May 28, 2009 and October 15, 2009.Oral arguments will be streamed at ...
Landlords Sue City of Milwaukee To Stop Residential Rental Certificate Ordinance
On December 29, 2009, three landlords filed a lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee in an attempt to stop the new Residential Rental Certificate Ordinance that was recently passed. The lawsuit includes a complaint, motion for temporary injunction, ex parte motion for temporary restraining order (TRO) and supporting affidavits. Essentially, the plaintiffs are arguing that the ordinance as written is (1) unconstitutionally vague, (2) contains fatal defects, ...
Upcoming AASEW Meetings, Topics & Speakers
The Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc. (AASEW) has some very interesting speakers and topics for its upcoming monthly membership meetings in 2010. All meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month at 7 pm at the Best Western Midway Hotel which is located at 1005 S. Moorland Road in Brookfield. There is no cost to attend the meetings. If you are not yet a member of ...
Rep. Marlin Schneider Amends AB-340 (CCAP Bill)
On December 2, 2009, Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) made an amendment to AB-340. Referred to as Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 to 2009 AB 340, this revised bill essentially would create two versions of the CCAP database. Schneider's amendment appears to be -- based on its timing at least -- a partial response to the Apartment Association of SE Wisconsin's critical response to a memo that Schneider sent to other members of the Wisconsin ...
AASEW Holiday Party Tonight
It is not too late to attend. You can register at the door.Cost is $25 per person.Location: Clarion Hotel at 5311 S. Howell Ave.Music and lots of Food. Cash bar.forget about all of the anti-landlord legislation being drafted and celebrate the holidays with us.