Landlords and property management companies use our legally binding Wisconsin lease agreement to enter into a rental contract with a tenant who wishes to rent residential property.
All states are required by Federal and state law to include specific protections and elements in residential rental agreements. Such information includes:
- The name and address of the tenant and landlord,
- The address of the Wisconsin rental property
- Length of the lease (e.g., 12 months)
- Pet allowances, prohibitions, and conditions
- Information and disclosures regarding known health or safety risks
- Specifics to collecting rent including the amount due, the due date and any grace period or late fees, whether a security deposit is required, and the payment methods accepted
All states have specific requirements for lease and rental agreements so make sure to acquaint yourself with Wisconsin’s nuances and guidelines. Failing to do so could result in financial or legal issues that leave you out of your house and home.
Other Wisconsin rental documents you might be interested in are:
- Wisconsin Sublease Agreement – Used by a tenant to lease all or part of their Wisconsin rental property to a new tenant (subtenant).
- Wisconsin Eviction Notice – Used by a landlord to start the eviction process with current tenants who have broken the terms of their residential lease agreement.
- Wisconsin Rental Application – Use our rental application to properly screen prospective tenants (including credit history and background check) before entering a legally binding lease agreement.
Wisconsin Landlord-Tenant Laws
Wisconsin state laws impose specific and distinct requirements for rental agreements. Chapter 704 of the Wisconsin Statutes and Chapter 134 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code provides the following:
Security Deposit
- No Wisconsin law sets a limit on which landlords may request from their tenants as a security deposit.
- Landlords must return a tenant’s security deposit within twenty-one (21) days of either the termination date of the agreement or the date a new tenant’s tenancy begins ((Wis. Admin. Code § 134.06(2)).
- Before a landlord accepts a security deposit, a tenant is afforded at least seven (7) days after the start of the rental agreement to inspect the premises for any damages or defects and request a list of damages or defects charged to the previous tenant’s security deposit (Wis. Admin. Code § 134.06(1)(a)).
- There is no statutory requirement but landlords may want to place security deposits in a separate account in a financial institution and give the name of the financial institution holding the security deposit to the tenant.
Landlord Right of Entry
- Wisconsin landlords may enter the premises to inspect, make repairs and show the premises to prospective tenants or buyers if advance notice is provided to a tenant and at reasonable times. (Wis. Stat. § 704.05(2)) The law does not specify the amount of notice required but generally it should be at least twelve (12) hours.
- Emergency entry by a landlord is allowed without any notice if the tenant is not present at the premises. (Wis. Stat. § 704.05(2))
Additionally, Wisconsin law requires:
Domestic Violence
- Wisconsin landlords cannot refuse to end a lease or shorten a lease term due to a tenant being a victim of documented sexual assault, stalking, or domestic violence or abuse (Wis. Stat. § 106.50(5m)(dm)).
- A landlord and tenant may terminate a rental contract if a tenant or child of the tenant is facing imminent threat of serious physical harm if the tenant remains on the property (Wis. Stat. § 704.16).
Wisconsin Residential Lease Agreement Example
The sample Wisconsin lease agreement below describes a contract between “Landlord” Poppy Holland and “Tenant” Sara Wesley. The prospective tenant agreed to rent a condominium in Milwaukee for $1,200 per month on a month-to-month basis beginning on January 1, 2018. The tenant agrees to pay for all utilities and services for the Premises and understands other provisions of the lease including late fees and times when the landlord may require additional rent. This is a good example of a simple lease agreement’s provisions, and how one should look in its final form.
Wisconsin Lease Agreement Sample
Use the free form below to create a Wisconsin lease agreement. Alternatively, you may write a customized lease agreement for Wisconsin using our document builder.