One of the biggest mistakes I see landlords and property management companies make is focusing only on whether a fee can legally be charged while ignoring whether the fee is disclosed and, if so, whether it is disclosed accurately.
Under Wisconsin law, disclosure matters . . . a lot.
In fact, many DATCP investigations into rental housing fees charged by landlords focus on allegations that the landlord failed to adequately disclose the true cost of renting the property.
Continue Reading Wisconsin Landlords Need To Be Careful About Rental Fee Disclosures
Latest from Tristan’s Landlord-Tenant Law Blog
Tristan’s Landlord Boot Camp – October 10, 2026
HelloI hope that you can join me for my next Landlord Boot Camp on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Since 2008, I have taught more than 2,500 landlords throughout the state how to do things the right way.I would like you to be one of the next Landlord Boot Camp attendees.Pettit Law Group S.C., my law firm, will be hosting Tristan’s Landlord Boot Camp going forward. Note the new location.Please see below for more information about the seminar.Seating will be
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Wisconsin Supreme Court Issues Koble Investments vs. Elicia Marquardt Decision
This blog post was drafted by Atty. Tristan Pettit and Atty. Gary Koch, and edited by Atty. Jennifer Hayden, all of Pettit Law Group S.C.At long last (oral arguments were held back in September of 2025!), the Wisconsin Supreme Court has issued its decision in the Koble Investments vs. Elicia Marquardt case. The wait has been worth it! The Landlord prevailed on all issues, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed the prior decision by the Court of Appeals.Just
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HUD Just Stopped Recognizing Emotional Support Animals! Landlords Should Not Celebrate Yet.
On Friday, May 22, 2026, HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) issued an enforcement guidance memo announcing that HUD will no longer recognize emotional support animals (ESA’s) as “assistance animals” under the federal Fair Housing Act. Instead, moving forward, HUD will follow the ADA’s standard, that the animal must be individually trained to perform a task related to the person’s disability. Comfort, companionship, and emotional support alone are not enough. HUD diverged from the ADA, which
Continue Reading HUD Just Stopped Recognizing Emotional Support Animals! Landlords Should Not Celebrate Yet.
Back to Basics – A Guide to Evicting a Tenant
This blog post was written by Atty. Madeline Worgull, edited by Atty. Tristan R. PettitWhen a tenant stops paying rent, a landlord cannot simply demand the keys back or change the locks. This blog post provides a step-by-step guide to the eviction process for new landlords, focusing specifically on notice requirements and removal procedures under Wis. Stat. Ch. 704 for non-payment of rent. Our team has previously published blog posts addressing individual aspects of the eviction process; this blog
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Landlords Should Expect Increased Government Scrutiny of Rental Housing Fees
Over the last several years, I have seen a substantial increase in government scrutiny, both federal and state, regarding the fees being charged by landlords and property management companies. In my opinion, this trend will only continue to grow in intensity and scope.Historically, many landlords viewed fees as a relatively minor issue. Application fees, administrative fees, amenity fees, re-rental fees, utility billing fees, convenience fees, technology fees, move-in fees, lease renewal fees, and similar charges became increasingly common throughout
Continue Reading Landlords Should Expect Increased Government Scrutiny of Rental Housing Fees
The Importance of Your Landlord Community
This blog post was drafted by Atty. Gary Koch of Pettit Law Group S.C.Have you been considering joining your next local Landlord Association meeting? There is no better time than now to see what they are about. Attorney Pettit, Attorney Hayden, and Attorney Koch are all active in local Landlord Associations, so, if for no other reason, you could come say “hi”!Even if the only thing you’re doing is following this Blog, you’ve no doubt seen that a lot
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Manufactured and Mobile Home Communities Are Different — And the Statutes Make That Clear
This blog post was drafted by Atty. Madeline Worgull of Pettit Law Group S.C.One of the most common mistakes we see at Pettit Law Group is assuming that all landlord–tenant relationships in Wisconsin are governed by the same rules. They are not.If you own or operate a manufactured or mobile home community, your obligations go well beyond Wis. Stat. ch. 704 and ATCP 134. You are also subject to Wis. Stat. § 710.15, which significantly restricts lease
Continue Reading Manufactured and Mobile Home Communities Are Different — And the Statutes Make That Clear
What Does HUD’s Decision To Revoke its 30-Day Notice Requirement Mean?
UPDATE: March 12, 2026 – From the National Leased Housing Association, March 12, 2026 – HUD will publish an interim final rule tomorrow in the Federal Register, indefinitely delaying the effective date of the interim final rule, revoking the 30-day Notification Requirement Prior to Termination of Lease for Nonpayment of Rent rule. The interim final rule, published on February 26, 2026, was slated to become effective March 30, 2026. HUD will now treat the interim final rule as a proposed rule, which will only be effective after
Continue Reading What Does HUD’s Decision To Revoke its 30-Day Notice Requirement Mean?
Choosing A Registered Agent For Your Company
This blog post was written by Atty. David J. Espin of Pettit Law Group S.C. One of the most frequently asked questions I get when I’m assisting clients with forming limited liability companies is: What are a registered agent and a registered office, and why do they matter? Wis. Stat. § 183.0115 states that every Wisconsin limited liability company “shall designate and maintain a registered office in this state,” and that the “designation of a registered agent is
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PLEASE ATTEND Capitol Day on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in Madison
Good Morning EveryoneI am personally inviting you to attend an EXTREMELY important event — Capitol Day on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in Madison. We need hundreds of people in attendance to demonstrate to legislators that we care.The Koble issue remains unresolved as I write this. Koble is the single most important issue facing landlords in Wisconsin. If you are not aware of Koble, please read one of my earlier blog posts about this issue. The draft legislation
Continue Reading PLEASE ATTEND Capitol Day on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in Madison
When Will Your Mailing Be Postmarked?
Written by Atty. Jennifer M. Hayden of Pettit Law Group S.C.]
Effective December 24, 2025, the USPS will adopt a “final rule” that, along with the implementation of the Regional Transportation Optimization (“RTO”) initiative, is likely to result in the date a mailing is postmarked being a day or more later than the date the mailing is delivered to USPS, unless you have it postmarked by hand by a USPS retail worker when you drop it off. The postmark
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How Are Landlords Affected Now That The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Has Been Told to “stand down from performing any work task” by the President?
This blog post is authored by Atty. Gary D. Koch of Pettit Law Group S.C.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was created in 2011 primarily in response to the 2008 financial crisis and recession. It has been tasked with protecting consumers from unfair financial practices from banks, lenders, other financial companies, and, yes, even landlords. The CFPB was one of the agencies charged with enforcing the CARES Act, and has been active in regulating tenant screening processes.Earlier this February,
Continue Reading How Are Landlords Affected Now That The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Has Been Told to “stand down from performing any work task” by the President?
Update On Notices Available To Wisconsin Landlords In Residential Tenancies
By statute, there are several types of notices that a landlord can serve on a tenant if the tenant commits a breach of their Residential Rental Agreement or when the landlord wishes to terminate the tenancy. If your Residential Rental Agreement with the tenant specifies something different, you would want to use the longer notice period.
Most of these notices can be used in periodic tenancies (such as a month-to-month tenancy) as well as a lease for the term
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With the COVID-19 Pandemic Over, Is the CARES Act Still In Effect?
While some effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic may continue to linger, the Public Health Emergency officially ended in May 2023. Does that mean the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act) is no longer relevant?
Unfortunately, the CARES Act is still relevant for landlords, specifically the 30-day notice period required for “Covered Dwelling Units.”
For a brief recap on the history and some potential issues for not complying with the Act, please see this prior blog post
Continue Reading With the COVID-19 Pandemic Over, Is the CARES Act Still In Effect?
Do you want to know everything about Residential Landlord-Tenant Law in Wisconsin? Then Attend My Landlord Boot Camp on November 16, 2024
Do you want to learn everything there is to know about residential landlord-tenant law in Wisconsin? If so, then you must attend my next Landlord Boot Camp, which will be held on Saturday, November 16th, from 8:30 am – 6 pm at the Sonesta Hotel in WauwatosaI will cover everything a landlord needs to know about residential landlord-tenant law in Wisconsin. We will be covering the all-important topics like:
- Screening and Qualifying the Prospective Applicant and Fair Housing