Wisconsin Month-to-Month Lease Agreement
A Wisconsin month-to-month rental agreement is a legal document that establishes the terms and conditions for a tenancy that operates on a monthly basis. This type of agreement remains in effect until either the landlord or tenant provides a termination notice at least 28 days in advance of their desired end date.
Wisconsin Month-to-Month Lease Agreement
Month-to-Month Lease Laws
Termination Notice
In Wisconsin, a termination notice of 28 days is required when either the landlord or tenant wishes to terminate a month-to-month lease. This notice must be provided in writing and specifies the end date of the tenancy.
Rent Increase Notice
There are no statutory requirements for landlords to provide notice of a rent increase. However, it is standard practice to give a 28-day notice before raising the rent amount, allowing tenants adequate time to prepare for the change.
Required Disclosures
Landlords are obligated to provide specific disclosures to tenants before signing a lease. These disclosures include:
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Building Code Violations: Any building or housing code violations must be disclosed to tenants prior to the signing of the lease.
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Damage and Defects: Landlords must inform tenants of their right to inspect the premises and receive a condition report before paying a security deposit.
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Landlord and Agent Identification: Tenants must be notified of the manager of the premises and receive the name of the owner or their agent for the purpose of receiving notices.
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Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: This disclosure is mandatory for properties built before 1978, informing tenants of potential lead hazards.
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Utility Charges: Tenants must be informed if utilities are not included in the rent before signing a lease or paying a deposit. For units that are not individually metered, landlords must explain how utility charges are assigned.
Wisconsin Month-to-Month Eviction
A landlord can terminate a month-to-month tenancy by issuing a 28-day notice. If the tenant does not vacate the property within this notice period, the landlord may file a complaint with the circuit court to initiate the eviction process.
Statutes
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.06 – Security deposits
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.06(2) – Security deposits
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.06(4) – Security deposits
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.06(1)(a) – Security deposits
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.06(1)(b) – Security deposits
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.05(4) – Earnest money deposits and credit check fees
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.03(2a) – Rental agreements and receipts
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.19(3) – Notice necessary to terminate periodic tenancies and tenancies at will
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.15 – Requirement that landlord notify tenant of automatic renewal clause
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.07(4) – Repairs; untenantability
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.09(7) – Prohibited practices
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 799.25(10) – Costs
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.29(2)(b) – Recovery of rent and damages by landlord; mitigation
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.17(1) – Notice terminating tenancies for failure to pay rent or other breach by tenant
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.17(2)(b) – Notice terminating tenancies for failure to pay rent or other breach by tenant
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.17(3) – Notice terminating tenancies for failure to pay rent or other breach by tenant
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.05(2) – Rights and duties of landlord and tenant in absence of written agreement to contrary
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.04(8) – Check-in sheet
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 106.50(5m) – Open housing
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.16 – Termination of tenancy for imminent threat of serious physical harm; changing locks
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.05(5)(a) – Rights and duties of landlord and tenant in absence of written agreement to contrary
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.05(5)(2) – Rights and duties of landlord and tenant in absence of written agreement to contrary
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 704.45 – Retaliatory conduct in residential tenancies prohibited
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.04(2) – Disclosure requirements
- Wis. Admin. Code §§ 134.04(1) – Disclosure requirements
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 799.01(2) – Applicability of chapter
- Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 799.40 – Eviction actions
FAQs
In Wisconsin, a landlord or tenant must provide a 28-day notice to terminate a month-to-month lease. This notice must be given in advance of the desired end date of the tenancy.
While there are no statutory requirements for rent increase notices in Wisconsin, it is standard practice to provide tenants with a 28-day notice before raising the rent amount.
Landlords in Wisconsin must disclose several important items before signing a lease, including lead-based paint hazards, rental inspection checklists, code violations, utility charges, and the identification of the landlord or authorized agents.
If a tenant receives a termination notice for a month-to-month lease, they should vacate the property within the 28-day notice period. If they do not vacate, the landlord may file a complaint with the circuit court to initiate eviction proceedings.
Tenants have the right to inspect the premises and receive a condition report before paying a security deposit. This ensures they are aware of any existing damage or defects in the property.
If a tenant does not vacate the property after receiving a 28-day termination notice, the landlord can file a complaint with the circuit court to begin the eviction process.
Yes, landlords are required to disclose any building or housing code violations to tenants before they sign a lease. This is part of the necessary disclosures to ensure tenant awareness.