Types (6)

Commercial Lease Agreement – A specifically-formulated document to be used in leasing situations where a property owner or landlord will be renting out their building, office, warehouse, or other space to a business owner.

Download – Adobe PDF

Lease to Own Agreement – Used for establishing an agreement where two parties—a landlord and tenant—agree that the tenant may purchase the rental property from the landlord at the end of the lease’s duration (if they so choose).

Download – Adobe PDF, Word (.docx), Rich Text (.rtf)

Month-to-Month Lease Agreement – Contrasting to leases that last one (1) year or longer, this lease lasts only one (1) month at a time, automatically renewing if neither party terminates it.

Download – Adobe PDF, Word (.docx), Rich Text (.rtf)

Roommate Agreement – A document specifying a multitude of matters related to a shared rental property. The matters may include those of a legally-binding nature, such as the payment of rent, as well as non-legally binding ones, such as the disposal of waste.

Download – Adobe PDF

Standard Residential Rental Contract – A type of lease agreement that is used for the majority of residential tenancy situations. Typically for leases with a duration of one (1) year.

Download – Adobe PDF

Sublease Agreement – A tenant who will sublease their rental property should create this contract, together with the sublessee, to ensure all expectations and obligations regarding the sublease are clear.

Download – Adobe PDF, Word (.docx)

What is a Wisconsin Lease Agreement?

A Wisconsin Lease Agreement is a legally-binding contract entered into by a landlord and a tenant who wish to establish the lease of a residential property. A landlord may, if they choose to, require prospective tenants to fill out a rental application. It is highly advisable they do so, as it gives them the opportunity to screen tenants.

When is Rent Due?

State law is silent on the matter of when rent is due. This should therefore be clarified in a written rental agreement. There is no grace period for charging late fees. However, according to § 704.17(3)(b), a landlord is required to provide the tenant at least five (5) days written notice after the rent is due before they may terminate the tenancy due to late rental payment.

Landlord’s Access

Emergency: State law does not explicitly detail the matter of landlord access in emergency situations. It does, however, state that when the tenant is absent from the premises and the landlord reasonably believes that entry is necessary to preserve or protect the premises, they may enter without notice and with such force as appears necessary. In any case, under federal law, landlords have the right to enter without notice in emergency situations.

Non-Emergency (§ 704.05(2)): With “advance notice and at reasonable times,” the landlord may access the rental property to inspect the premises, make repairs and show the premises to prospective tenants or purchaser. Although the precise definition of “advance notice” and “reasonable times” is not given, twenty-four (24) hours notice and entry on business days from 9 AM to 6 PM are respectively recommended.

Required Disclosures

• Code Violations (ATCP § 134.04(3)): The landlord must disclose to the prospective tenant any building code or housing code violation if all of the following conditions are met: (1) they have actual knowledge of it; (2) the violation affects the rental property or a common area of the premises; (3) the violation presents a significant threat to the prospective tenant’s health or safety; and (4) the violation has not been corrected. The disclosure must be made prior to entering into a rental agreement or accepting any earnest money or security deposit from the prospective tenant.
• Conditions Affecting Habitability (ATCP § 134.04(2)(b)): The landlord must disclose, prior to entering into a rental agreement or accepting any earnest money or security deposit from the prospective tenant, a number of conditions that affect the habitability of the rental dwelling. The conditions relate to such areas as the rental property’s water facilities, heating facilities, temperature, electrical system, structural conditions, plumbing, and sewage disposal facilities.
• Lead Paint Disclosure: If a landlord of a rental property built before 1978 has knowledge of any lead paint hazards in the property, they must alert tenants of them. They must additionally provide tenants with a government-produced pamphlet that outlines the issue in depth.
• List of Damages (ATCP § 134.06(1)(a)(2.)): The landlord has seven (7) days after the start of the tenancy to notify the tenant in writing that they may request a list of physical damages or defects, if any, charged to the previous tenant’s security deposit. The list must be provided if requested, regardless of whether those damages or defects have been repaired. The landlord must provide it within thirty (30) days after the request is received, or within seven (7) days after the landlord notifies the previous tenant of the security deposit deductions, whichever is later.
• Names and Addresses (ATCP § 134.04): At or before the time a rental agreement is entered into, the names and addresses of the following two parties must be disclosed in writing. The first party being the person/s authorized to collect or receive rent and manage and maintain the premises, and who can readily be contacted by the tenant. The second party being the owner of the premises or other person authorized to accept service of legal process and other notices and demands on their behalf.
• Rental Property Inspection (ATCP § 134.06(1)(a)(1.)): The landlord has seven (7) days after the start of the tenancy to notify the tenant in writing that they may inspect the rental property and notify the landlord of any preexisting damages or defects.
• Sex Offender Disclosure (§ 704.50(2)): If a person makes a request to the landlord, in relation to the rental of the lease of the property, to disclose information about “whether a particular person is required to register as a sex offender” the landlord must disclose any relevant information they are knowledgeable of.
• Water, Heat, and Electricity (ATCP § 134.04(3)): The landlord must disclose if charges for water, heat, or electricity are separate to the rent amount. The disclosure must be made prior to entering into a rental agreement or accepting any earnest money or security deposit from the prospective tenant. If individual dwelling units and common areas are not separately metered, disclosure is also mandatory regarding how charges for utility services will be allocated among individual dwelling units.

Security Deposits

Maximum: There is no limit on the amount a landlord may charge a tenant for a security deposit.

Returning to Tenant (ATCP § 134.06(2)): The landlord must return the security deposit within twenty-one (21) days of the tenant vacating the premises at or before the termination date of the rental agreement. As per ATCP § 134.06(4), if the landlord will withhold any portion of the security deposit, they must deliver, with the remaining security deposit amount, a written statement that describes “each item of physical damages or other claim made against the security deposit, and the amount withheld as reasonable compensation for each item or claim.”