• 05/28/2024 8:00 AM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    HB4768, The Landlord Retaliation Act, is working its way through the General Assembly.

    The purpose for the legislation is to prevent a landlord from retaliating against a tenant who complains about property conditions. That behavior is already prohibited by law, but the advocates of this bill feel the existing law doesn’t sufficiently punish landlords.

    Among a list of triggering actions, the new version states that if a tenant simply requests a repair then a landlord is prohibited from making management decisions like raising rent, refusing to renew a lease or change any term of service for one year after that request is made.

    This is not limited to major maintenance problems. Almost every request for repair could trigger the prohibition. Multiple maintenance requests within a year are not uncommon, so the liability of this bill will often be continuous.

    The biggest problem with the bill is a presumption that the landlord is guilty of retaliation if they make any of the prohibited management decisions within the year after the request for maintenance is made.

    Read the Full Article Here

  • 05/24/2024 12:00 PM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)


  • 05/21/2024 10:30 AM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    Learn about Milwaukee County Housing Services new program called LIFT (Landlord Incentives to Foster Tenancy).

    When:

    Tuesday, June 18th at 10:00am

    Where:

    Milwaukee County Housing Services

    600 W Walnut St #100

    Milwaukee, WI 53212

    How to RSVP:

    Email alexi.millard@milwaukeecountywi.gov

  • 05/17/2024 8:00 AM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $30 billion in renewal funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV). This funding will help Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) continue to provide assistance to families and individuals who are in need of affordable housing options.

    [Note: The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee is set to receive over $39 million.]

    Read the Full Article Here

  • 05/13/2024 12:00 PM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    By Samuel A Walker, City Assessor

    What is Mass Appraisal?

    • Definition: Mass appraisal is the process of valuing a large number of properties simultaneously.
    • Purpose: To determine property values for taxation, assessment, or other purposes (ex. TIF values).
    • Scope: Typically used for entire neighborhoods or communities.

    Why Use Mass Appraisal?

    • Efficiency: Faster and cost-effective compared to individual appraisals.
    • Fairness: Ensures equitable property valuation.
    • Consistency: Provides consistent valuations for similar properties.
    • Timeliness: Enables regular assessment updates.
    See Full Document Here (PDF)
  • 05/10/2024 12:00 PM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    Did you miss the last RPA Landlord Boot Camp in April? Are you wondering when the next one will be so you don't miss out again?

    Or are you like the attendees who attended a Boot Camp, and want to take the next one to make sure you keep your skills sharp?

    Or are you the like the attendees who completed a Boot Camp maybe a year or two ago and really want to "sharpen the pencil"?

    Don't worry! The RPA is working on scheduling the next Landlord Boot Camp for November. So stay tuned!

  • 05/02/2024 12:00 PM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Thursday announced new guidelines that aim to apply the provisions of the Fair Housing Act to the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm of housing.

    HUD released separate pieces of guidance aimed at applying Fair Housing Act provisions to two key areas of concern in which AI use could impact the fair application of housing services: the tenant screening process and “its application to the advertising of housing opportunities through online platforms that use targeted ads,” HUD said in its announcement.

    Read the Full Article Here

  • 04/23/2024 4:00 PM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    How much did assessments increase in Milwaukee in 2024?

    All of the city's 15 aldermanic districts saw assessments rise, though there was quite a range in terms of how much they increased, according to the Assessor's Office.

    At the high end, the assessed value of residential property increased 26.85% in District 1 on the city's north side, while District 4 that encompasses much of downtown and the near west side saw the smallest increase at 14.02%.

    The range depends on the neighborhood and should generally be aligned with other comparable homes in the area.

    Is it possible for an assessment to increase without any upgrades being made to the home? If so, how?

    Yes. Assessments are based on a comparison of homes to similar ones that have sold over the past year. Thus, property owners can see values go up even if they have not made improvements — and even if they don't intend to.

    What is a 'maintenance year' for property assessments and what does that mean for 2024?

    Last year was a "maintenance year," when assessments from 2022 were used and values were updated "when changes warrant," according to the Assessor's Office website. Changes could include new construction, changes in parcel size, remodeling, demolition and more. They do not necessarily result in a change in value.

    In a "revaluation" year like 2024, assessed values for most properties will change.

    "In a revaluation, the assessor looks at the prior years' sales to update assessments citywide, in addition to the property changes and corrections reviewed for a maintenance assessment," the website states.

    How can you appeal your assessment?

    Property owners in Milwaukee have until 4:45 p.m. on May 20 to file an appeal of their assessments.

    The first step to filing an appeal is to contact the Assessor's Office.

    The Assessor's Office can be reached:

    • Online at https://city.milwaukee.gov/assessor
    • By email at assessor@milwaukee.gov
    • Phone from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Questions about appeals and assistance can be directed to 414-286-6565. The Assessor's Office general phone number is 414-286-3651.

    The second step is to request an appeal form and return it by 4:45 p.m. on May 20.

    The office recommends that evidence be submitted with appeals. For residential property owners, that could be a copy of a recent appraisal, recent market analysis from a local real estate agent, photos of the inside or outside of the home showing areas that need maintenance, and photos showing features that weren't part of the home as of Jan. 1 of the current year but that are listed on the Assessor's Office's property record card.


    Read Full Article Here (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

  • 04/16/2024 11:30 AM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected Legal Action’s bid to make eviction judgments disappear in one year instead of the statutory 10-year retention period.

    The industry and good renters owe a large thank you to Attorney Heiner Giese (RPA - Rental Property Association of Wisconsin), Rick Van Der Leest of the Green Bay and Appleton Associations, and Chris Mokler of the Wisconsin Apartment Association for making this happen. Heiner and Rick received mention by the Court at the hearing today.

    Heiner’s comments:

    Follow the statute: if no money judgment is docketed, then the case goes off CCAP after two years; if a writ was issued then the record is searchable for 10 years. Our goal has always been to encourage nonpaying tenants to move voluntarily, so landlords can dismiss a case without the trauma (for both parties) of having the sheriff do a forced moveout.

  • 04/10/2024 11:00 AM | Dawn Anastasi (Administrator)

    By Dawn Anastasi, RPA Board Member

    The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee has been holding monthly virtual meetings always on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 10 am-11 am CDT.

    Rent Increase Forms

    One reminder in the session email is that starting March 1, 2024, they no longer mail out rent increase forms. You can obtain a rent increase form on their website. They are counting on you to be proactive and to monitor your HACM tenant lease ending dates so you know when future rent increase forms are due. Return completed rent increase forms to section8leasing@hacm.org no less than 90 days prior to the lease end date.

    The Housing Authority Process

    A reminder on the call that there are only so many Housing Vouchers. People need to apply, then get selected from a waiting list. Applicants need to prove that they are income eligible. HACM's waiting list has been open since December 2021. There are about 15,000 people on the waiting list.

    Once someone is selected, they go through a background check, an income eligibility check, and a assets check. Once someone passes these checks, the applicant is issued a Housing Voucher which is valid for 120 days. The tenant can then look for housing. The applicant can pay no more than 30% of their income on housing, including utilities. HACM will pay the rest.

    Once a tenant applies for a rental unit, HACM does a rent reasonableness check, and does an inspection on the unit to ensure it is safe and functional.

    Today's Session

    Today's session was the sixth such virtual session and focused on an open forum for questions from Housing Providers. Here are some of the questions asked:

    Q: When can we see housing contracts on the HACM portal?

    A: We are working with the software company at this time. We hope to have it available in the next 6 weeks.

    Q: I have a S8 tenant in a duplex unit. The other unit in the building is becoming available shortly and the S8 tenant wants to move to the other unit. Can I allow that? Do we end the current lease and start a new one and redo the entire process?

    A: Yes, both tenant and landlord need to sign a mutual lease/HAP termination form. The new unit would need to be inspected before the transfer.

    Q: I have tenants that can't complete recertification online. Many of my tenants don't have computers or printers. Can they still receive the paper recert packet?

    A: No. It is required to be completed online. We will be having open computer labs on Wednesdays from 10 am - 12 pm and 2-4 pm going forward.

    Q: Is there a way that Housing Providers can get an email reminder for renewal dates from the HACM portal?

    A: HACM is looking for an answer on this from the software provider. Email reminders are not currently available. Housing Providers need to go to "Unit Info" on the HACM portal and check the "Re-exam Date". Subtract 3 months from that date and that is the date to get the rent increase forms into HACM by.

    Q: How many inspectors does HACM currently have?

    A: Currently HACM has 3 inspectors and they are looking to hire 1 more.

    Q: How far in advance are inspections scheduled?

    A: Typically 2-3 months prior to the lease recertification date.

    Q: Is the Housing Portal available in languages other than English for tenants who do not speak/read/write English well?

    A: The portal allows them to select the language. If they need assistance it is being provided on Wednesdays at 5003 W. Lisbon.

    Q: How do we as landlords rebuttal if we do not agree with the proposed rent by Housing?

    A: The lease and contract specialist will work with you to come up with a reasonable rent for the unit.

Rental Property Association of Wisconsin, Inc. (Formerly AASEW)
P.O. Box 4125
Milwaukee, WI 53204-7905
Phone: 414-276-7378


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