| Rent Increase Facts | Answer |
| Reason Needed? | No |
| Maximum Amount | No Statute |
| Required Notice | No Statute |
Does Wisconsin Have Rent Control?
Wisconsin does not have rent control laws limiting the amount that landlords ask for rent. State law prohibits local governments from establishing rent control laws.
When Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Wisconsin?
Landlords in Wisconsin can raise the rent at any time, as long as they comply with the following:
- Aren’t raising rent for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons
- Give reasonable notice
- Wait until the end of the lease term (unless otherwise specified in the lease)
28 days before the end of a year-long lease, a landlord sends the tenant a notice that rent will increase by 8.5% if they choose to renew the lease.
When Can’t a Landlord Raise Rent in Wisconsin?
Landlords in Wisconsin may not raise the rent if:
- It is during the middle of a lease’s fixed term (unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement).
- The increase is applied in a way that discriminates against one of the protected classes specified in the Fair Housing Act.
- It is done in response to a protected tenant action, such as filing a complaint. This is known as “retaliation” .
In addition to the characteristics above, the Wisconsin Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination due to:
- Marital status
- Ancestry
- Source of income
- Age
- Status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking
In most areas of Wisconsin, the law does not specify a time between the tenant action and the rent increase that qualifies as retaliation. However, in Madison, an action by a landlord is considered retaliatory if it occurs within 6 months after something a tenant does.
Recent Wisconsin caselaw has decided that if a landlord attempts to raise rent using an unlawful lease provision, the landlord must return to the tenant ALL rent paid during the entire tenancy.
How Often Can Rent Be Increased in Wisconsin?
Landlords in Wisconsin can increase the rent as often as they wish, as long as reasonable notice is provided each time.
How Much Notice is Needed To Raise Rent in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin law does not require a specific notice period before raising the rent. However, 28 days’ notice is typically used as reasonable notice of a rent increase.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Wisconsin?
Landlords in Wisconsin can raise the rent by any amount that they wish. There is no legal limit or cap on the amount of a rent increase.
Sources
- 1 WI Stat § 66.1015
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No city, village, town or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees charged for the use of a residential rental dwelling unit.
Source Link - 2 WI Stat § 704.45
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…a landlord in a residential tenancy may not increase rent…if there is a preponderance of evidence that the action or inaction would not occur but for the landlord’s retaliation against the tenant…
Source Link - 3 WI Stat § 106.50
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…all persons shall have an equal opportunity for housing regardless of…marital status…status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, lawful source of income, age, or ancestry…
Source Link - 4 Madison Code of Ord. § 32.15
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Retaliation shall include…inconsistent rent payment increases…shall be presumed to be retaliatory if committed within six months…
Source Link - 5 WI Stat § 704.19
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A periodic tenancy or a tenancy at will can be terminated by either the landlord or the tenant…At least 28 days’ notice must be given…
Source Link - 6 Koble v. Marquardt, App. No. 2022AP182 at 46 (Wi. App. April 23, 2024)
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…when a transaction [including a covenant to rent] is void, the customer shall be entitled to retain the goods, services or money received pursuant to the transaction without obligation to pay any amount and shall be entitled to recover any sums paid to the merchant pursuant to the transaction.
Source Link
