A Milwaukee lease agreement is a legal contract explaining the rental arrangement between a tenant and a landlord. It outlines critical aspects such as the lease’s duration, the monthly rent payments, and the security deposit requirements. Both parties can also find information on upkeep obligations, property utilization, subleasing conditions, and lease dissolution protocols.
Milwaukee Lease Requirements
Milwaukee has no city-specific lease requirements, as the city follows Wisconsin’s landlord-tenant laws (WI Stat. Chapter 704 – Landlord and Tenant). Please note that landlords should know about some city-specific considerations:
Fair Housing Ordinance
Even though the whole state abides by state and federal laws relating to fair housing, Milwaukee has some extra protections in place. Landlords can’t discriminate based on the following factors:
- Homelessness: A tenant who previously lacked housing or was a resident of a supervised temporary living facility can’t be denied housing on these grounds.
- Genetic identity: Milwaukee bans discrimination based on the results of any genetic testing a tenant may have.
- Military service: Landlords can’t discriminate based on a tenant’s present or past military service.
Rooming House License
According to the Milwaukee City Code, rental units housing there or more unrelated occupants require a rooming house license.
Optional Lease Disclosures and Addendums
The following optional lease disclosures and addendums can help landlords communicate their expectations to tenants:
- Crime-free addendum: Milwaukee has more than five times the amount of violent crime than the state of Wisconsin, so landlords can use this disclosure to protect their property and other tenants.
- Parking rules addendum: Use this addendum to outline the building’s parking policy, including prohibited uses and street parking rules, because Milwaukee is a driving-centric city.
