By Atty. Gary D. Koch of Pettit Law Group S.C.
See the Full Article on Tristan's Blog Here
If you are a landlord in Wisconsin, you’ve no doubt heard about the Koble Investments case now pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Since the decision was published, Koble successfully petitioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review, and hopefully overturn, the Court of Appeals decision.
Several interested entities, who are not parties to the action, have asked the Supreme Court to allow them to file Amicus, or “friend of the court”, Briefs to help guide the Supreme Court through the complicated issues and their potential ramifications on Wisconsin’s Landlord / Tenant landscape.
After June 9, the Supreme Court will likely schedule the case for oral argument, where the parties’ attorneys will present their arguments to the Court and field questions from the Justices regarding their positions. After oral argument, the Supreme Court will issue an Opinion.
There is no time frame for the Court to schedule oral argument or issue its Opinion, so we will continue to monitor the case and provide updates as it progresses.
By Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Read Full Article Here
Republicans leading the bill say business and property owners have reported higher cases of emotional support and service animal misrepresentation, with owners using fake harnesses or vests.
The bill would enshrine in law landlords' ability to ask tenants for documentation showing a prescription for an emotional support animal. Tenants who provide false documentation or health care providers who don't have a 30-day, established relationship with the patient could face a $500 fine.
When: May 20, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Where: Virtual Online Meeting
Agenda: Presentation from Mediate Wisconsin, Milwaukee Justice Center, and Rental Housing Resource Center on eviction alternatives and legal resources for housing providers in Milwaukee County.
REGISTER HERE
What's happening in other states may alarm you.
Here are 2 bills introduced in Massachusetts:
HB1901: Fining Landlords for Tenant Drug Use
House Bill 1901 would impose fines on landlords if tenants use or store illegal drugs on their properties, regardless of whether the landlord is aware of the activity. This measure seeks to curb drug-related issues in rental properties by holding property owners accountable. Critics argue that penalizing landlords without their knowledge is unjust and could discourage property investment or lead to overly intrusive tenant monitoring. Supporters claim it incentivizes landlords to maintain safer environments, though the bill’s lack of clarity on enforcement or landlord protections remains contentious.
HB2246: Landlord Liability for Police Responses
House Bill 2246 goes further, making landlords financially responsible for the costs of police responses to their properties, no matter who initiates the call or the reason behind it. This could include incidents ranging from domestic disputes to noise complaints, even if the landlord has no control over the situation. Proponents argue that this bill encourages landlords to screen tenants more carefully and address issues proactively. However, opponents warn that it could unfairly burden landlords with unpredictable costs, particularly in high-crime areas, and may deter property owners from renting to certain tenants or operating in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Here is a bill introduced in Illinois:
HB3564: Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act
Prohibits a landlord from imposing a move-in fee. Provides that a landlord may not demand any charge for the processing, reviewing, or accepting of an application, or demand any other payment, fee, or charge before or at the beginning of the tenancy. Limits late fees to $10 for the first $1000 in monthly rent, and then 5% for everything more than $1000.
Here is what's happening in Washington:
Washington Joins Ranks of States Enacting Statewide Rent Control
Washington State has approved a new rent control measure, capping annual rent increases at the lesser of 7% plus inflation or 10%, with stricter limits for manufactured housing.
The law exempts buildings less than 12 years old and is paired with expanded tax incentives for developers focused on affordable housing.
Read the Full Article Here
Study by Legal Services Corporation, Office of Data Governance and Analysis
Read 10-Page Paper Here
Summary:
More than one-third of all occupied residences in the United States are rentals, home to over 45 million households.
Landlords, as the owners of these rental properties, provide a critical resource: affordable rental housing for individuals and families with limited incomes.
About 70% of all landlords are small, “mom-and-pop” landlords who own four or fewer rental properties and often rely on timely rent to cover mortgage costs and property expenses.
MYTH 1: Eviction filings are a quick way to recover unpaid rent.
REALITY: Eviction filings take weeks or months and landlords rarely recover all unpaid rent.
MYTH 2: Landlords file evictions on a whim.
REALITY: Landlords typically explore other options with their tenants before filing for eviction.
MYTH 3: Eviction is a cost-effective way to manage risk.
REALITY: Far from being a cost-effective strategy for managing the risk of rent disruptions, evictions increase risk for landlords.
MYTH 4: Eviction only hurts the tenant.
REALITY: Both tenant and landlord lose.
Matt Desmond, author of book “Evicted,” will be speaking at UWM on Wednesday 4/30. The event is free and open to the public (not just students and faculty).
When:
April 30, 2025 | 6:30PM
Where:
UWM Student Union, Wisconsin Room
2200 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Milwaukee County Housing Services April Town Hall is featuring a Fair Housing presentation from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Fair Housing Council (MMFHC).
Agenda:
This is an online event.
Register Here
If you have general questions or concerns regarding HCV Program operations and are looking for answers, please join the next online update for housing providers:
Prefer to call-in only (no video)?
Reminder: May 31 Deadline to Set Up Direct Deposit
As of July 2025, HACM will only issue Housing Assistance Payments electronically (no more paper checks). Therefore, all property owners/managers must set up direct deposit through the Landlord Portal no later than May 31, 2025.
Link to Landlord Portal
Recertifications
HACM is making good progress on the backlog of recertifications and remain confident they will meet the previously stated goal to rectify this issue by the end of May 2025. As a reminder, those accounts with late recertifications pending will continue to receive Housing Assistance Payments during this period.
Here is the latest news regarding FinCEN reporting. In the last few months this has been back and forth regarding needing to file or the deadline for reporting being pushed off.
All entities created in the United States — including those previously known as “domestic reporting companies” — and their beneficial owners are now exempt from the requirement to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN. Existing foreign companies that must report their beneficial ownership information have at least an additional 30 days from March 26, 2025—until April 25, 2025, for most companies—to do so.
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