Landlord and Tenant laws serve a specific purpose. They exist to govern the rental agreements of a commercial or residential property. Moreover, they also influence the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. The law states the rights of both parties during their relationship. The Wisconsin Statutes chapter 704, titled Landlord and Tenant, comprehensively covers landlord and tenancy laws. Not only does the statute define the terms, but it also explicitly states the rights and responsibilities of both parties in the rental agreement.
One of the most frustrating things for landlords is a tenant who refuses to pay rent timely. Likewise, some tenants can also cause damage to your property. The Wisconsin Statutes aim to protect landlords in such instances. You’ll want to find a lawyer familiar with the small claims and evictions process to help you when you’re facing this dilemma.
The Wisconsin Statues grant landlords specific rights. For instance, landlords have the right to the protection of their income investment. Therefore, landlords can require their tenants to pay monthly rent and utility bill payments as part of the lease agreement. Landlords also have the right to evict tenants. However, they must have a legitimate cause for eviction, such as non-payment of rent. In addition, landlords must provide adequate eviction notice, allowing the tenant to find other living arrangements.
Like landlords, tenants also have rights under the landlord-tenant law. The Wisconsin Statutes afford protection to tenants from landlords in various situations. For instance, your landlord can’t legally evict you from your rental property without adequate notice. Moreover, tenants also receive protection under the Fair Housing Act, protecting them from civil rights violations. For starters, landlords cannot discriminate against existing or potential tenants based on their color, race, religion, familial status, and more. In addition, landlords are also responsible for ensuring that the rental property meets housing codes and is in a habitable condition.
Both parties need to understand the basics of the landlord-tenant law to have a cooperative working relationship.
Generally, most landlords ask for a security deposit before a tenant moves into their property. Under the Wisconsin statutes, there’s no maximum or minimum security deposit limit. However, tenants will be keen to know they’ve got to repay the security deposit within 21 days when leaving.
Likewise, the statute requires adequate notice from landlords to tenants during an eviction. For instance, if you’ve got a monthly or yearly tenancy, your landlord must provide you with a notice period of 28 days. However, if you’ve got a lease agreement, the landlord must mention the stipulations within the lease and follow them accordingly.
Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, you’ll know that tenancy disputes often arise. For instance, you might have a tenant who has caused significant damage to your property. Yet, they’re threatening to pursue legal action if you withhold their security deposit.
Likewise, you might have a landlord unwilling to adhere to the eviction notice mentioned in your lease agreement.
Regardless of the situation, you’ll need the services of an experienced landlord and tenancy lawyer. The Vargas Law Office can help you in such a situation. Attorney Ronnie Vargas is an experienced lawyer. He has been practicing law since 1996 and has considerable experience in landlord-tenancy laws.
Get in touch with the Vargas Law Office today to get legal counsel from one of the most experienced attorneys in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.