Wisconsin

A Wisconsin simple (basic) lease agreement serves as a contract that allows tenants to temporarily reside in landlords’ properties. This rental document includes essential details such as tenant and landlord names and addresses, property addresses, lease lengths, pet allowances, safety disclosures, and rent payment specifics. Furthermore, Wisconsin lease agreements establish legal relationships between property owners and renters throughout the state.

Wisconsin Simple (Basic) Lease Agreement Laws Overview

Wisconsin maintains no statewide rent control laws affecting rental contracts. Additionally, the state establishes no statutory limits on late fees in lease agreements. Landlords can include late fees in rental agreements if they specify them clearly. However, Wisconsin provides no grace period for late payments under lease agreements. Moreover, landlords don’t need licenses to rent properties with rental contracts.

Rental Application Process

Landlords may ask prospective tenants to complete rental applications to evaluate their rental history and reliability before signing Wisconsin lease agreements. Therefore, this process helps landlords make informed decisions about potential tenants.

Required Disclosures in Wisconsin Lease Agreements

Wisconsin law mandates several disclosures that landlords must provide to tenants in their rental contracts:

Safety Disclosures for Lease Agreements

Lead-Based Hazards: Wisconsin lease agreements must inform tenants about potential lead hazards in buildings constructed before 1978. Consequently, this disclosure protects tenant health in rental properties.

Code Violations: Landlords must disclose any building code violations that could affect living conditions in their lease agreements. Therefore, tenants receive important safety information about rental properties.

Administrative Disclosures in Rental Contracts

Rental Inspection Checklist: Upon moving in, tenants receive checklists to complete within seven days according to Wisconsin lease agreements. Moreover, this process documents property conditions at lease commencement.

Notice of Abandoned Personal Property: Wisconsin lease agreements allow landlords to dispose of abandoned property. However, landlords typically notify tenants before taking such action under rental contracts.

Identification of Landlord or Authorized Agents: Lease agreements must provide contact information for landlords and any authorized agents. Therefore, tenants know who to contact for property-related issues.

Utility Information in Lease Agreements

Utility Charges: If properties lack separate meters, Wisconsin lease agreements must disclose how landlords divide utility charges among tenants. Consequently, this transparency prevents billing disputes in rental arrangements.

Wisconsin Lease Agreement Security Deposit Rules

Wisconsin law imposes no maximum limits on security deposits in rental contracts. Additionally, landlords must provide receipts for any security deposits they receive under lease agreements.

Security Deposit Management

While Wisconsin doesn’t mandate interest payments on security deposits, landlords may choose to keep deposits in separate bank accounts. Furthermore, they can inform tenants of deposit locations according to their lease agreements.

Security Deposit Return Process for Lease Agreements

Wisconsin lease agreements require landlords to return tenant security deposits within twenty-one days after leases end or when new tenants begin. Moreover, tenants have at least seven days after rental agreements start to inspect properties for damages.

Additionally, tenants can request lists of damages charged to previous tenants’ security deposits under Wisconsin rental contracts. If landlords withhold any deposit portions, they must provide itemized statements detailing damages and claims against deposits.

Rent Payment Terms in Wisconsin Lease Agreements

Rent typically comes due at the beginning of rental periods according to most lease agreements. Furthermore, no statewide rent control laws exist in Wisconsin. Landlords must specify any late fees in their rental contracts clearly.

Late Payment Procedures

Since Wisconsin provides no grace periods, landlords can issue 5-day notices to quit immediately after rent becomes overdue under lease agreements. However, tenants may qualify for rent abatement if properties are in poor condition. Meanwhile, tenants cannot withhold entire rent amounts while remaining on properties according to rental contracts.

Landlord Entry Rights in Wisconsin Lease Agreements

Wisconsin allows landlords to enter premises for inspections, repairs, or property showings to prospective tenants or buyers. However, lease agreements require landlords to provide advance notice to tenants, generally at least twelve hours.

Emergency Entry Provisions

During emergencies, landlords can enter without prior notice if tenants are not present according to Wisconsin rental contracts. Additionally, tenants may request lock changes if they provide appropriate documentation under their lease agreements.

Property Maintenance in Wisconsin Lease Agreements

Wisconsin establishes specific maintenance responsibilities that affect all rental contracts in the state.

Landlord Repair Responsibilities

Landlords must inspect and repair properties according to their lease agreements. Therefore, property owners bear responsibility for maintaining rental units in proper condition.

Tenant Property Modification Restrictions

Wisconsin lease agreements prohibit tenants from making physical changes to properties without landlord consent. Consequently, this protection preserves property integrity for owners.

Lease Violation Consequences

If tenant neglect leads to lease breaches, landlords can issue 5-day notices to quit under Wisconsin rental contracts. Therefore, tenants must maintain properties according to agreement terms.

Terminating Wisconsin Lease Agreements

Wisconsin requires specific procedures for lease termination depending on tenancy types.

Month-to-Month Tenancy Termination

Wisconsin lease agreements require 28-day notices to terminate month-to-month tenancies. Therefore, this notice period protects both landlord and tenant rights during tenancy changes.

Abandoned Property Disposal

Landlords may dispose of abandoned property as they see fit under Wisconsin rental contracts. However, they must hold medical equipment for seven days before disposal according to lease agreement regulations.

City-Specific Wisconsin Lease Agreement Considerations

While these requirements apply throughout Wisconsin, local regulations may vary in different cities. Particularly, Milwaukee may have specific regulations affecting lease agreements. Therefore, both landlords and tenants should check local laws to ensure compliance with rental contracts.

Wisconsin Lease Agreement Legal 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
Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § ATCP 134.02(11) – Definitions
Wis. Stat. § 704.02 – Severability of rental agreement provisions.

FAQs

In Wisconsin, landlords must provide several disclosures, including information about lead-based hazards for buildings constructed before 1978, a rental inspection checklist, notice of abandoned personal property, building code violations, identification of the landlord or authorized agents, and utility charges if there are shared meters.

Wisconsin law does not impose a maximum amount for security deposits. However, landlords are required to provide a receipt for any security deposit received and must return it within twenty-one days after the lease ends or a new tenant moves in.

Yes, landlords in Wisconsin can charge late fees, but there are no specific limits set by law. Any late fee must be included in the written lease agreement, and there is no grace period for rent payments.

Wisconsin landlords must provide advance notice to tenants before entering the premises, typically at least twelve hours. However, in emergencies, landlords can enter without notice if the tenant is not present.

Tenants in Wisconsin have seven days from their move-in date to complete a rental inspection checklist provided by the landlord. If they find issues, they should document them and communicate with the landlord to address the problems.

To terminate a month-to-month lease in Wisconsin, a tenant must provide a 28-day notice to the landlord. This notice must be given before the next rental period begins.

No, Wisconsin does not have any statewide rent control laws, and no local government can impose rent control measures. Landlords have the freedom to set rental prices without restrictions.

If a tenant abandons personal property in Wisconsin, the landlord may dispose of it at their discretion. It is common practice for landlords to notify the tenant before disposing of any abandoned property.