Section 134.04. Disclosure requirements.

 

(1)   Identification of landlord or authorized agents.

(a) The landlord shall, except as provided under par. (c) , disclose to the tenant in writing, at or before the time a rental agreement is entered into, the name and address of:

1. The person or persons authorized to collect or receive rent and manage and maintain the premises, and who can readily be contacted by the tenant; and

2. The owner of the premises or other person authorized to accept service of legal process and other notices and demands on behalf of the owner. The address disclosed under this subdivision shall be an address within the state at which service of process can be made in person.

(b) A landlord shall keep tenants informed of changes, if any, in the information required under par. (a) . The landlord shall mail or deliver written notice of each change within 10 business days after the change occurs.

(c) This subsection does not apply to an owner-occupied structure containing no more than 4 dwelling units.

(2)   Code violations and conditions affecting habitability. Before entering into a rental agreement or accepting any earnest money or security deposit from the prospective tenant, the landlord shall disclose to the prospective tenant:

(a) Any building code or housing code violation to which all of the following apply:

1. The landlord has actual knowledge of the violation.

2. The violation affects the dwelling unit that is the subject of the prospective rental agreement or a common area of the premises.

3. The violation presents a significant threat to the prospective tenant's health or safety.

4. The violation has not been corrected.

(b) The following conditions affecting habitability, the existence of which the landlord knows or could know on basis of reasonable inspection, whether or not notice has been received from code enforcement authorities:

1. The dwelling unit lacks hot or cold running water.

2. Heating facilities serving the dwelling unit are not in safe operating condition, or are not capable of maintaining a temperature, in all living areas of the dwelling unit, of at least 67 ° F (19 ° C) during all seasons of the year in which the dwelling unit may be occupied. Temperatures in living areas shall be measured at the approximate center of the room, midway between floor and ceiling.

3. The dwelling unit is not served by electricity, or the electrical wiring, outlets, fixtures or other components of the electrical system are not in safe operating condition.

4. Any structural or other conditions in the dwelling unit or premises which constitute a substantial hazard to the health or safety of the tenant, or create an unreasonable risk of personal injury as a result of any reasonably foreseeable use of the premises other than negligent use or abuse of the premises by the tenant.

5. The dwelling unit is not served by plumbing facilities in good operating condition.

6. The dwelling unit is not served by sewage disposal facilities in good operating condition.

(3)   Utility charges. If charges for water, heat or electricity are not included in the rent, the landlord shall disclose this fact to the tenant before 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, and if the charges are not included in the rent, the landlord shall disclose the basis on which charges for utility services will be allocated among individual dwelling units.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1980, No. 290 , eff. 5-1-80; am. (1) (b), (2) (b) 1. and 2., cr. (2) (b) 5. and 6., Register, December, 1998, No. 516 , eff. 1-1-99; CR 14-038 : r. and recr. (2) (a) Register August 2015 No. 716 , eff. 11-1-15.