A Wisconsin rental application is a document landlords, listing agents, and property owners use to screen applicants and gather essential information thoroughly before signing a lease.
Laws
- Application Fee – Refundable (if the application is withdrawn or rejected)
- Fee Limits – § 134.05 – No maximum amount but a maximum of $20 for a background check (copy of background report must be shared with the tenant)
- Security Deposit – § 134.06 – No limit on how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit.
State Laws
For Tenants
Renters in Wisconsin should be aware of their rights. Some of the most essential points to keep in mind include the following:
- Application Fee: As per § 134.05, in Wisconsin, the fee is also referred to as an earnest money deposit, and there is no limit to what landlords can charge. The landlord must return the full earnest money deposit to the applicant if the landlord rejects the application, does not sign a lease agreement, or the applicant withdraws before the landlord accepts it. If the parties enter a rental agreement, the earnest money deposit must be returned to the applicant or applied as rent or security deposit.
- Credit Check Fee: As per § 134.05 (4), landlords can charge applicants their actual cost, up to $20, for a credit check fee. If the applicant can produce a consumer credit report under 30 days old, the landlord must accept it without charging a fee.
- Security Deposit: If the landlord decides to accept an applicant, they can ask for a security deposit. There is no limit to the security deposit a landlord can ask for, per § 134.06.
- Pet Deposit: Wisconsin does not impose a limit on a pet deposit, but the deposit cannot be ‘non-refundable [1] .’
For Landlords
The Wisconsin Fair Housing Law prohibits landlords from discriminating based on these additional categories:
- The source of income as it relates to public assistance
- Marital status
- Information about ancestry
- The age of the applicant
- Information about whether the applicant is a prior victim of stalking, sexual assault, or domestic abuse [2]
Other Resources
- State Sex Offender Registry: Wisconsin landlords can access the State Sex Offender Registry to be aware of any registered sex offenders applying as tenants.
- State Fair Housing Laws: Wisconsin landlords must adhere to the state’s Fair Housing laws, which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, or source of income.
Sample
