Tristan’s Landlord-Tenant Law Blog

Free Landlord-Tenant Law Seminar In West Allis on March 31, 2011

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Screening Tenants, Rental Agreements, Rental Documents, Seminars / Comments

I will be presenting a seminar for the West Allis Landlord Training Program on Thursday, March 31, 2011 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.  This seminar is sponsored by the West Allis Police Department and is open to the public at no cost.I will be speaking on two specific areas:1.  Rental Documents -- specifically what rental documents you should be using with your tenants to protect yourself such as:

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New Rental Agreement for Self-Service Storage Units Now Available at Wisconsin Legal Blank

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Rental Agreements, Rental Documents, Self-Service Storage Units / Comments

I have recently drafted a Self-Service Storage Unit Rental Agreement that is now available and being sold at Wisconsin Legal Blank Co., Inc.  Additionally I have drafted two seperate default notices that should be sent to the tenant who has breached the rental agreement for the self-service storage unit.  The two default notices contain differernt language as required per Wisconsin's new law regarding self-service storage facilities and units.Self-service storage facilities ...

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Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Against Landlord in Maryland Arms Case and Chooses To Avoid Answering The Bigger Question

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Caselaw, Tenant Damage, Rental Agreements / Comments

The Wisconsin Supreme Court filed its opinion in this very important case on July 7, 2010.  While the majority opinion ruled against the landlord it did not go so far as to say that a landlord and tenant could not allocate liability for damage (when neither party was negligent in causing the damage) in their rental agreement. If you would like to review the specific facts of the case and the ...

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BLOG COMMENT: What If Tenant Does Not Give You Proper Notice To Vacate? . . . and Other Questions.

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in ATCP 134, Rental Agreements / Comments

I recently received a very good question through my blog but because it was posted under my "About The Author" section I don't think enough people would see it so I decided to reprint it as a post.THE QUESTION:Good Morning,I will start by saying thank you for this forum, I find it very helpful and one of a kind.  I know you must be very busy but I was ...

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NEW LANDLORD FORM NOW AVAILABLE REGARDING TENANT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR LAWN CUTTING AND SNOW REMOVAL

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Rental Agreements, Rental Documents / Comments

I have recently completed drafting a new form for landlords to use that is now being sold at Wisconsin Legal Blank Co., Inc.Addendum To Residential Rental Agreement: Responsibility for Yard Care and Exterior UpkeepForm #985 is entitled Addendum To Residential Rental Agreement.  This document sets forth a tenant's responsibility for yard care and exterior upkeep of the rental property.  This form should only be used if the landlord is renting out ...

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Wisc. Legal Blank Co.'s New & Improved Residential Rental Agreement Is Now Available.

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Rental Agreements, Rental Documents / Comments

I wanted to alert anyone that is currently using the Residential Rental Agreement that is sold at Wisconsin Legal Blank Co, Inc. (and even those of you who don't : ) that the new and improved version is now available ans is being sold at WLB.I completed the revisions to the updated Agreement last week.  The new version indicates a revision date of 1/4/10 whereas the prior version had a ...

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MARYLAND ARMS CASE WILL BE REVIEWED BY WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Caselaw, Rental Agreements, Rental Documents / Comments

In my May 28, 2009 post I wrote about the then recently published Wisconsin Court of Appeals case of Maryland Arms Limited Partnership v. Connell, 2009 WI App 87, __ Wis.2d __, 769 N.W.2d 145. This was an important case because a divided Court of Appeals held that a tenant could not be held responsible for the damages that resulted after her hair dryer caused a fire which resulted in ...

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ATCP 134: THE 7 DEADLY SINS - 7 PROHIBITED RENTAL PROVISIONS

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in ATCP 134, Rental Agreements, Rental Documents / Comments

04/16/15 - UPDATE - This blog post has been updated by a new blog post dated 04/16/15 and entitled THE 10 DEADLY SINS: 10 PROVISIONS THAT LANDLORDS ANNOT INCLUD IN THEIR WISCONSIN RESIDENTIAL RENTAL AGREEMENT Did you know that if you have an illegal provision in your rental agreement that the entire agreement may be unenforceable? Unfortunately this is true. In the case of Baierl v. McTaggart the Wisconsin ...

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TIME TO REVIEW YOUR RENTAL DOCUMENTS

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Rental Agreements, Rental Documents / Comments

With the new year already upon us, I encourage all property owners and managers to spend some time reviewing their current rental documents so that any needed changes can be made before accepting new applicants.  Below are some questions and ideas that may assist you in your review.Is the rent amount that you are charging your current tenants in line with the what other similar properties are being rented for ...

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