The year 2016 has brought about some changes to Wisconsin’s Landlord – Tenant statutes, particularly as they relate to a landlord’s right to evict a tenant who engages in criminal activity.
Act 176 provides a way for a landlord to protect his/her property from a tenant who commits a crime or is involved in a drug-related crime. Prior to this Act, a landlord could evict a tenant by using something called a “right to cure” notice. However, oftentimes before a landlord was able to get the tenant served with this notice, the tenant would cure, or fix, the problem. This new law will allow a landlord to terminate the tenancy at his/her discretion.
In addition, this new law does not just include tenants committing crimes. It can also include guests who are visiting or staying with the tenant. For example, if you have a friend over to your apartment for a visit and this guest is caught selling drugs to someone in your apartment, your landlord could evict you.
If you have been charged with a crime, give us a call, we can help! And be aware that if you live in an apartment, your landlord could now try to evict you for criminal activity. If this happens to you, give us a call. We can refer you to a good landlord-tenant lawyer.
