Tristan’s Landlord-Tenant Law Blog
AASEW's Landlord Boot Camp On October 26th To Address New Landlord Tenant Law Soon To Be Passed
Be the first on your block to learn about the new Landlord-Tenant law which is expected to be passed later this month!The AASEW's popular Landlord Boot Camp will address the ins and outs of the new law (currently referred to as Senate Bill 179) on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 8:30 am - 5:30 ...
GUEST POST: The New and Improved Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin
For the past two and a half decades or so, I put a lot into the Apartment Association. I remain a board member and avid supporter of the organization.We did some good and prevented some bad during my tenure on the board. We've had very impressive leaders before and after my presidency such as Dave Domres , Attorney John Savage and Attorney Tristan Pettit. We've also had some of the brightest ...
Don't Miss The Landlording Event of The Year - AASEW Trade Show on Friday, September 27th
Hello Everyone --- The event of the year -- the AASEW's Conference & Trade Show -- will be held in a little more than 1 week.You will not want to miss this great event at its new location at Potawatomi Bingo Casino. When: Friday, September 27, 2103 from 11 am - 4:30 pm (Doors open at 10 am)Where: Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 West Canal Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233How Much? Free ...
GUEST POST: Is the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin Against the City of Milwaukee?
Is the Apartment Association against the City of Milwaukee?After a recent meeting I received an email from an irate member who was offended by some of my commentary regarding the city of Milwaukee, it seemed the association had an anti-Milwaukee tone to its messages. Having committed much of my career to making Milwaukee, especially its central core, a better place to live I was initially surprised by the feedback, ...
AASEW MEETING: Eviction Court Essentials -- Monday, August 19, 2013
The AASEW's next meeting will be this coming Monday, August 19, 2013 at 7 pm at the Best Western in Brookkfield.The Apartment Association of Southeastern WI welcomes Milwaukee County Circuit Court Commissioner Cedric Cornwall as our main speaker at our August meeting. With all of the recent law changes in the landlord-tenant law arena, Commissioner Cornwall will speak to the group on the preferred procedures to follow in eviction court ...
GUEST POST: Four Rental Scam Prevention Strategies
Property scams are common on the web. Both landlords and tenants are susceptible to illegitimate listings and clients, so it is always important to proceed with caution. Use these four strtegies.1. Check SourcesMake sure that the property in question is actually up for rent. Scammers will take advantage of vacant homes due to foreclosure and attempt to rent out ...
CCAP Is Under Attack Again
When Senator Marlin Schneider lost re-election a few years ago, I thought that the attacks against Wisconsin's Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) would disappear. Well they did -- for a while. But Senator Lena Taylor along with Representatives Goyke, Sargent, Kessler, Hebl and Pope haven taken up the torch and are trying to prevent the public from accessing CCAP once again via Senate Bill 234/Assembly Bill 253.These two bills were ...
Attorney General States That A Tenant Can Be Required To Pay For Carpet Cleaning Upon Vacating
It is not often that I get to report good news for landlords, so when the opportunity arises I am especially happy to do so. Today is one of those times. Earlier today the Wisconsin Attorney General issued a formal legal opinion that states that it is legal for a residential landlord in Wisconsin to require an outgoing tenant to pay to have the carpet in the unit professionally cleaned ...
AASEW Meeting: Learn the Ins & Outs of Low Income Tax Credit Financing on July 15th.
You look at conversions such as the knitting factory being turned into loft apartments on the near Southside and you wonder ‘How could they afford to do this, in this market?’The answer is Low Income Tax Credit Financing. A brief overview is you design a project, go to the state (WHEDA) and apply for tax credits. If all goes well and you are approved, you receive federal income tax credits. There ...
New & Improved Nonstandard Rental Provisions Form Available at Wisconsin Legal Blank
As many of you know, I draft the various landlord-tenant law forms that are sold at Wisconsin Legal Blank Co., Inc. In light of the recent court of appeals decision (Keyes & Gruner v. Waldbillig et. al) that I referenced in an earlier ...
Occupancy Standards . . . Not As Simple As "2 Persons Per Bedroom"
Simply stated, occupancy standards focus on how many individuals can live in a rental unit. Landlords have the right to set reasonable, non-discriminatory, limits as to how many people can live in a rental unit.Many landlords believe that as long as they follow a policy of "2 person per bedroom" that they will be fine. Unfortunately that is not always the case. There is no clear-cut ...
Court of Appeals Decision Reminds Landlords To Review Their Nonstandard Rental Provisions Before Making Deductions from A Tenant's Security Deposit
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals, in an unpublished decision dated May 9, 2013, held that a landlord wrongfully withheld a portion of his tenants' security deposit for costs incurred when attempting to re-rent the rental unit.As I have mentioned in a prior post, Wisconsin law essentially allows a landlord to deduct only three things from a tenant's security deposit: (1) damage, waste, or neglect, (2) rent, (3) utilities. Any other items ...
AASEW Meeting: Is Property Management An Art or A Science? - June 17, 2013 at 7 pm.
Join the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin on June 17th as we have masters of the craft present on Best Practices in Property Management along with the legal ramifications of failing to follow the rules. SE Wisconsin is clearly a pro tenant district so educate yourself to the possible landmines that await you along with what some are doing to avoid them. It will be an educational night with ...
AASEW Meeting: Financing Real Estate In Today's Market ---- May 20, 2013
Please join me at the AASEW's next monthly membership meeting where we will discuss Financing Real Estate in Today's Market.When: Monday May 20th, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.Where: The Best Western, 1005 S. Moorland Road, Brookfield 53005Who: Panel of local lending experts. Details below.Cost: This meeting is free for current AASEW members, $25 for guests or expired membersGood deals are more abundant today than ever in the past. But we all ...
HUD Issues Notice on Assistance Animals and Reasonable Accommodations For Persons with Disabilities
Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a notice on assistance animals and reasonable accomodations for persons with disabilities.Not to long ago I wrote a post that dealt with this subject. HUD's new notice also adds clarifying information to that post.Disability-related complaints, including those that involve assistance animals, are the most common discrimination complaint that HUD receives per John Trasvina, HUD Assistant Secretary ...
Top 10 Pitfalls That Landlords Should Avoid
Those of you that missed the last AASEW membership meeting on Monday, April 15, 2013, missed a great meeting and a great presentation. The featured presenter was John "Dr. Rent" Fischer, a Wausau-area landlord and rental property manager, who spoke to a packed house that Monday. John's presentation was dynamic, educational and at times pretty darn funny.With John's permission, I am providing you with a link to ...
Another Way That Landlords Can Teach Tenant Roommates the Concept of Joint & Several Liability (and Collect Rent)
I recently received an email from the Gino Zahnd the CEO of a company called Cozy based in the San Franciso area. Gino's company assists landlords in collecting rent and referenced my blog post discussing the concept of "joint and several liability" in which I explain how landlords should treat roommates as "one person" in order to impress upon tenants the concept of joint and several liability. Joint and Several liability is a ...
Next AASEW Meeting: Dr. Rent's Top Ten Landlording Pitfalls To Avoid - April 15th
The AASEW's next meeting will feature Dr. Rent's TOP TEN Landlording Pitfalls to AvoidWhen: Monday April 15th, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.Where: The Best Western, 1005 S. Moorland Road, Brookfield 53005Who: John "Dr. Rent" FisherCost: This meeting is free for current AASEW members, $25 for guests or expired membersBad things happen to good people. When a good landlord falls victim to a bad tenant, we all know the results. Dealing with bad ...
Next AASEW Meeting - The Ins & Outs of Evicting - March 18th
The next AASEW meeting will focus on the "The Ins & Outs of Evicting."The meeting will be held on Monday, March 18th, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Best Western Hotel located at 1005 S. Moorland Road in Brookfield.The speakers will be Attorney Tristan Pettit of Petrie & Stocking S.C. and Detective Jon Nilsen of the Milwaukee County Eviction Squad.Atty. Pettit will discuss the top reasons that the courts dismiss landlord's evictions and ...
GUEST POST: The Importance of Rentals In Milwaukee
Below is a very thought provoking guest post from fellow blogger (and friend and fellow AASEW Board Member) Tim Ballering:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Journal is reporting:Over the next three years, Barrett said raze orders in the city are expected to grow to 1,600 homes, with a cost of $24 million. ”We have a very severe problem right now,” Barrett said.No kidding we have a “severe problem ” This a problem that continues to ...