Wisconsin housing and borrowing

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Housing, homelessness, and indigence Grants to facilitate the independent living of homeless persons Under current law, the Department of Administration provides housing grants to counties, municipalities, community action agencies, and private organizations for the purpose of providing housing and associated supportive services to homeless individuals and families in order to facilitate the movement of homeless persons to independent living. This bill provides an additional $5,000,000 in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to fund that grant program. Emergency rental assistance grants The bill creates an emergency rental assistance program under which DOA awards grants to provide tenant-based rental assistance to individuals and families who have suffered an economic hardship and whose annual household income does not exceed 80 percent of the median household income for the county in which the individual or family resides. The bill appropriates $10,000,000 for the program in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. Grants to defray housing costs The bill increases funding for DOA to award grants to persons or families of low or moderate income to defray housing costs. The bill provides an additional $220,000 in each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium for that purpose. Duties of the Interagency Council on Homelessness The bill requires the Interagency Council on Homelessness to do all of the following every two years: 1. Identify ways in which DOA and other state agencies specified in the bill and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority can increase access to services for homeless individuals and families, including homeless children and youths as defined under federal law. 2. Advise each of the state agencies specified in the bill and WHEDA to revise any policy or

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Current law prohibits cities, villages, towns, and counties (local governments) from enacting ordinances that impose certain limitations on residential landlords, including 1) restricting a landlord in entering into a rental agreement with a prospective tenant while the premises is occupied by a current tenant; 2) restricting a landlord in showing a premises to a prospective tenant during a current tenant’s tenancy; or 3) requiring a landlord to provide to a tenant information that is not required to be provided under federal or state law. This bill creates an exception to these restrictions, allowing a local government to enact an ordinance that 1) requires a landlord to make a good faith offer to renew a tenant’s lease unless there is good cause for nonrenewal, and establishes standards for determining good cause; 2) prescribes notice requirements related to a landlord’s offer to renew a lease; 3) establishes requirements related to the execution of a renewed lease agreement; 4) prescribes timeframes during which a landlord may enter a leased premises to show the premises to prospective tenants or lease the premises to another tenant for a subsequent lease period; or 5) provides a penalty or remedy for violation of the ordinance.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Under current law, no city, village, town, or county may enact or enforce an ordinance that imposes a moratorium on a landlord from pursuing an eviction action against a tenant of the landlord’s residential or commercial property. This bill repeals that provision. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Under current law, a tenant may withhold (abate) rent if the rental premises is in such disrepair that it affects the health or safety of the tenant or substantially affects the use and occupancy of the premises. Current law allows a tenant to abate rent to the extent that the tenant is deprived of the full normal use of the premises, but prohibits a tenant from withholding rent in full if the tenant remains in possession of the premises. This bill provides that, in these situations, a tenant may abate rent in accordance with a rent abatement schedule promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection by rule, if available, and directs DATCP to create such a schedule. The schedule must specify items for which a tenant is entitled to rent abatement and the amount of rent abatement for each item. The bill also allows rent to be abated in full. In addition, if a tenant complains to the landlord or to a local housing code agency about a defect in a residential premises, current law prohibits the landlord from retaliating against the tenant by increasing rent, decreasing services, bringing an eviction action, refusing to renew a lease, or threatening to do any of these things. This bill clarifies that a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for the reasonable abatement of rent. The bill also provides that if a landlord in a residential tenancy increases rent, decreases services, brings an action for possession of the premises, refuses to renew a lease, or threatens to do any of these things, such action is presumed to be a prohibited retaliatory action if the tenant has complained to the landlord or to a local housing code agency about a defect in a residential premises or exercised any of the tenant’s legal rights relating to his or her tenanc

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Current law prohibits a political subdivision from enacting an ordinance that does any of the following with respect to a residential landlord: 1) prohibits or limits the landlord from obtaining or using various types of information about a tenant or prospective tenant, such as household income, occupation, court records, rental history, and credit information; 2) limits how far back in time a prospective tenant's credit information, conviction record, or previous housing may be considered by the landlord; 3) prohibits the landlord from showing a rental property to a prospective tenant, or from entering into a rental agreement for a rental property with a prospective tenant, while the current tenant is living there; 4) places requirements on the landlord relating to security deposits, earnest money, or inspections that are additional to the requirements under the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's rules; 5) limits a landlord's ability to recover for damages to a landlord's premises during the tenant's occupancy or to recover for costs for which the tenant is responsible under the lease; 6) requires a landlord to provide certain information to its tenants or to the political subdivision; 7) requires inspections of rental properties or units except upon complaint or as part of a statutorily described inspection program; 8) charges fees beyond those specified under the statutes; or 9) requires that a rental property or rental unit be certified, registered, or licensed or requires that a residential rental property owner register or obtain a certification or license related to owning or managing the rental property. This bill repeals these prohibitions.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Under current law, a tenant may withhold (abate) rent if the rental premises is in such disrepair that it affects the health or safety of the tenant or substantially affects the use and occupancy of the premises. Current law allows a tenant to abate rent to the extent that the tenant is deprived of the full normal use of the premises, but prohibits a tenant from withholding rent in full if the tenant remains in possession of the premises. This bill provides that, in these situations, a tenant may abate rent in accordance with a rent abatement schedule promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection by rule, if available, and directs DATCP to create such a schedule. The bill also allows rent to be abated in full. In addition, if a tenant complains to the landlord or to a local housing code agency about a defect in a residential premises, current law prohibits the landlord from retaliating against the tenant by increasing rent, decreasing services, bringing an eviction action, refusing to renew a lease, or threatening to do any of these things. This bill clarifies that a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for the reasonable abatement of rent. The bill also provides that if a landlord in a residential tenancy increases rent, decreases services, brings an action for possession of the premises, refuses to renew a lease, or threatens to do any of these things, such action is presumed to be a prohibited retaliatory action if the tenant has complained to the landlord or to a local housing code agency about a defect in a residential premises or exercised any of the tenant's legal rights relating to his or her tenancy, including reasonably abating rent, at any point in the preceding 12 months.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Under current law, no city, village, town, or county may enact or enforce an ordinance that imposes a moratorium on a landlord from pursuing an eviction action against a tenant of the landlord's residential or commercial property. This bill repeals that provision. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

This bill requires political subdivisions with zoning ordinances to allow as a use permitted by right at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on each parcel on which single-family or multi-family residential use is a use permitted by right. The bill also prohibits political subdivisions from doing any of the following: 1. Charging fees, other than standard building permit fees, related to the addition of an ADU to a parcel. 2. Providing dimensional, physical, design, or locational requirements that apply to ADUs, but do not apply to single-family dwellings. 3. Providing standards, other than standards relating to habitability, that apply to ADUs but do not apply to other accessory structures. 4. Imposing any additional parking requirements to parcels on the basis of the existence of an ADU. 5. Requiring the installation of a separate utility connection to an ADU. The bill also provides that any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in a deed or other instrument affecting real property that prohibits or unreasonably restricts the construction, maintenance, or use of an ADU is void and unenforceable and prohibits a homeowners’ association from restricting or preventing the construction, maintenance, or use of an ADU, except to the extent necessary to protect public health and safety. Because this bill may increase or decrease, directly or indirectly, the cost of the development, construction, financing, purchasing, sale, ownership, or availability of housing in this state, the Department of Administration, as required by law, will prepare a report to be printed as an appendix to this bill. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Under current law, if a tenant is late in paying rent, the landlord may give the tenant a notice that requires the tenant to pay rent or vacate within at least five days after the notice is given. If the tenant fails to pay the rent by that date, the tenancy is terminated. Under certain circumstances, if a tenant is late in paying rent, the landlord may give the tenant a notice requiring the tenant to vacate within at least 14 days after the notice is given without the option to cure by paying rent. Under current law, a landlord may bring a small claims eviction action against a tenant whose tenancy has been terminated for failure to pay rent. Under this bill, if a residential tenant fails to pay rent when due, the tenant's tenancy is terminated only if the landlord gives the tenant a notice that requires the tenant to pay rent or vacate within at least 30 days after the notice is given; the tenant fails to pay the rent; and the landlord applies for and is denied emergency rental assistance under a local, state, or federal assistance program, if such a program exists, or is ineligible for such emergency rental assistance. Under the bill, a 30-day notice must include certain information, including contact information for the emergency rental assistance provider serving the county where the tenant resides; a statement as to whether the landlord is qualified to receive emergency rental assistance under a rental assistance program, and, if eligible, that the landlord is required to apply for such funds; a statement that, if the landlord is ineligible for such funds, the tenant may be able to apply for emergency rental assistance; and a statement that the landlord may not pursue an action for eviction against the tenant for failure to pay rent if the tenant or the landlord a

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Under current law, if a tenant is late in paying rent, the landlord may give the tenant a notice that requires the tenant to pay rent or vacate within at least five days after the notice is given or, under certain circumstances, a notice requiring the tenant to vacate within at least 14 days after the notice is given without the option to cure by paying rent. If the tenant fails to pay the rent by that date, the tenancy is terminated. Under current law, a landlord may bring a small claims eviction action against a tenant whose tenancy has been terminated for failure to pay rent. Under the bill, during a public health emergency, if a residential tenant fails to pay rent when due, the tenant's tenancy is terminated only if the landlord gives the tenant a notice that requires the tenant to pay rent or vacate within at least 30 days after the notice is given; the tenant fails to pay the rent; and the landlord applies for and is denied emergency rental assistance under a federal assistance program, if such a program exists, or is ineligible for such emergency rental assistance. The bill defines “public health emergency” as a state or federal public health emergency declared in response to an infectious disease outbreak. Under the bill, a 30-day notice must include certain information, including contact information for the emergency rental assistance provider serving the county where the tenant resides; a statement as to whether the landlord is qualified to receive emergency rental assistance under a federal assistance program, and, if eligible, that the landlord is required to apply for such funds; a statement that, if the landlord is ineligible for such funds, the tenant may be able to apply for emergency rental assistance; and a statement that the landlord may not pursue a

The credit finances income-restricted rental housing. Ending it for newly eligible buildings concerns future rental supply and financing; it does not directly set Wisconsin rents or establish a change in the 2020–2024 median.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

H.R. 3540 would end the low-income housing tax credit for buildings placed in service in taxable years beginning after enactment. It has not become law.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Under current law, if a landlord provides notice of termination of a tenant's tenancy due to failure to pay rent or other amount due under the rental agreement and the notice includes an incorrect statement of the amount due, the notice is still valid unless the statement of amount due is intentionally incorrect or the tenant provided a payment of an amount the tenant believes to be due. This bill repeals this provision. Additionally under current law, notice of termination of tenancy is considered given on the 2nd day after the day of mailing, if the mail is addressed to a point within the state. This bill changes “2nd day” to “5th day.” Also under current law, a landlord providing certain notices of termination of tenancy may provide proof of certified mailing from the United States post office in order to establish that the landlord provided proper notice for the purpose of filing a complaint in small claims court or otherwise demonstrating that proper notice has been provided in an eviction action, and an affidavit of service may not be requested to establish that proper notice has been provided. The bill eliminates that provision.