Please note that this training is intended for housing providers, not housing consumers or members of the general public.
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
To register for this seminar, CLICK HERE or call 414-278-1240.
The seminar will include information about the protected classes and prohibited practices delineated by local, state, and federal fair housing laws, as well as reasonable accommodations and modifications for tenants with disabilities.
The material presented during this seminar is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Recording of the seminar is not permitted.
August Virtual Information Session
Click here to join the meeting
Prefer to call-in only (no video)?
Landlord Portal: Features Now Available
Great news! The next time you log into the Landlord Portal, not only will you be able to access real-time information about your HACM HCV Program account, but you will also be able to view inspection reports and submit rent increase requests, if eligible ... all without having to call, email or come into the office.
Inspection Reports are now available via the 'Attachments' icon on your dashboard. These are typically posted the next business day following the inspection.
To submit a Rent Increase Request, simply click the 'Rent Increase Request' icon on your dashboard and follow the on-screen instructions.
Not yet registered for a portal account? Please email stephen.fendt@hacm.org and include your name and the last four of your tax ID. Once received, we'll send you a registration code.
These reports are used to support the state & city asking FEMA for help.
https://211wisconsin.communityos.org/damage-report
Update provided courtesy of MCHS
LIFT Celebrates One Year
We're thrilled to mark the one-year anniversary of LIFT (Landlord Incentives to Foster Tenancy) -- our landlord incentive program designed to strengthen housing stability through flexible funding, quicker lease-ups, and strong partnerships. Partners can stay tuned for our annual report and updates at www.LIFTMKE.com.
Inspection Updates
Beginning October 1st, 2025, Milwaukee County Housing services is transitioning from Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to NSPIRE. As part of this change, we want to highlight a major update for all housing providers. A smoke detector installed outside of a sleeping room within 6 feet of the bedroom, will no longer be acceptable during inspection. The new standards require that all sleeping rooms must have a 10-year sealed battery smoke detector installed. This is in addition to already required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Upcoming Housing Provider Town Hall
Let's connect! Come here from our Supportive Housing Case Management team at our next virtual town hall is happening Tuesday, July 15th at 10am. We'll discuss and learn about case management and other mental health services available to Milwaukee County residents.
Register Here
By Kirsten Fagerland Pezewski, Attorney
CITY OF MILWAUKEE’S PROPOSED HOUSING ELEMENT PLAN: A plan to increase housing in the City of Milwaukee that affects property owners and developers.
We are writing today to talk about the City of Milwaukee’s Proposed Housing Element Plan. Any owners or developers interested in City of Milwaukee properties should be interested in this plan.
This project has been in motion since 2023, and is currently in the adoption process. The “final draft” of the plan is dated June 9, 2025.
On July 8, 2025, the Common Council’s Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee recommended approval of the ordinance adopting Milwaukee’s Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element as part of Milwaukee’s overall Comprehensive Plan.
The summary shows two “near term” strategies: (1) update the zoning code to allow more neighborhood scale housing in more neighborhoods (allowing detached homes, townhouses, ADUs and cottage courts in all neighborhoods); and (2) adjust the zoning code to remove barriers to new housing by relying on height, setback and design requirements as opposed to mathematical equations to control the numbers of housing units.
The plan does touch on renters and therefore on property owners. However, the plan is largely about re-envisioning Milwaukee’s zoning and planning rules to encourage housing-friendly growth which goes hand in hand with walkable neighborhoods, group homes, homes for all ages and stages, multigenerational families, etc. As such, the plan may be of interest to members that are interested in development, and the plan may hold information regarding programs and services that, while chiefly directed more to homeowners, may provide opportunities for members interested in development as well.
There are seven key priorities including an emphasis on building repair, intergovernmental collaboration and legislative advocacy which increases accountability for property owners and enacting legislation protecting tenant rights, and a city commitment to “anti-displacement” which does not, in the summary, refer to anti-eviction measures, but does in the plan.
Of note, this plan is an update to the “Comprehensive Plan” to support evolving housing needs, and earlier drafts were entitled “Growing Milwaukee”. Members may be familiar with information attached to the earlier plans.
The first one-third of the report is background material. There are interesting statistics regarding Milwaukee Housing and rental housing in Milwaukee. For instance, when housing was built and in what areas of the city, and the numbers of units of differing types built over time. It shows 58% of Milwaukeeans are renters, for example.
The plan shows various “themes” from public comments. Owner-related are the following: anti-displacement of renters and homeowners; “Fair & Quality Housing Conditions”—residents would like city officials to hold “bad” landlords accountable to provide fair and quality housing for all residents; “Accountability & Speculation”—residents would like city officials to hold absentee landlords accountable and discourage predatory and speculative investment in homes.
The plan discusses “Goals & Policies” of the City of Milwaukee including the following:
This does provide insight into tenant rights’ packages for which the City of Milwaukee may be advocating. Members should continue to be aware of local housing and legal trends.
Information provided from HACM (Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee)
July Virtual Information Session
Update: Recertification and Lease Renewal Processing
We understand that some of you may have now exceeded the 90-day extended payment period. As a reminder, property owners will continue to receive payments for up to three (3) months after the lease expiration date. Rest assured, we are working diligently to complete these recertifications and resume regular payments as quickly as possible. Once a tenant's lease renewal is finalized, a copy will be sent to both parties. At that time, any necessary payment adjustments, retroactive to the renewal date, will be made.
Thank you for your continued patience as we work through our backlog of tenant recertifications. We truly appreciate your understanding.
Direct Deposit Now Required for July 2025 and Following Payments
As was first announced in January, and in each monthly communication since, beginning July 1, 2025, HACM will only issue Housing Assistance Payments through direct deposit. Therefore, if you are a property owner/manager and have yet to set up Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) via your Landlord Portal account, we are holding your check for July here at our office.
Did you miss the Town Hall which discussed the Opportunity MKE program?
Here's a flyer that explains what was discussed.
High-opportunity generally means neighborhoods with high performing schools, access to employment, low rates of violent crime, and access to other amenities like parks and grocery stores.
Want more information on this program?
Visit the Website Here
From: Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM)
June Virtual Information Session
Notice: HUD Mandate for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Effective immediately, all sleeping rooms within units on the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program as well as living rooms, dining rooms and each floor of a unit must have a 10-year sealed battery smoke detector installed in order to pass a HACM-conducted inspection. In addition, 10-year sealed battery carbon monoxide detectors must be on each floor and within 21 feet of any gas appliance.
This is a HUD mandate that went into effect on December 29, 2024 and is part of the new NSPIRE Standards — most of which are set to go into effect October 1, 2025. For more information, see NSPIRE Standards | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Note: A smoke detector installed outside of a sleeping room (i.e., in the hallway, within 6 feet of the bedroom) will no longer receive a pass rating during inspection. Also, if the living room and dining room are adjoined, only one smoke detector is required for both rooms.
Direct Deposit Only for All July 2025 Payments
As was first announced in January, and in each monthly communication since, beginning July 1, 2025, HACM will only issue Housing Assistance Payments through direct deposit. Therefore, if you are a property owner/manager and have yet to set up Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) via your Landlord Portal account, you must do so no later than June 23 in order to receive your HAP in July.
We ask for your continued patience as we work through our backlog of recertifications. Landlords will continue to receive payments for 3 months after the lease expired under the terms of the expiring leases. When the tenant’s lease renewal is complete, a copy will be sent to both parties and any payment adjustments going back to the renewal date will be made at that time.
Landlord Portal: New Features Now Available
To submit a Rent Increase Request, simply click the 'Rent Increase Request' icon on your dashboard (see image below) and follow the on-screen instructions.
By Mike Scarcella, Reuters
Read Full Article Here
A U.S. federal appeals court ruled Friday that the United States must face potentially billions of dollars in legal claims over a temporary ban on residential evictions during the COVID pandemic that affected millions of landlords.
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a 7-3 decision, opens new tab rejected the government's bid to overturn a decision by a panel of judges last year that refused to dismiss claims from landlords seeking compensation over the eviction moratorium.
Damages have been estimated at tens of billions of dollars, as rental property owners were blocked from evicting people who were not paying rent.
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