A Wisconsin Notice of Lease Renewal or Extension is a letter which complies with state legal requirements for a landlord to renew or extend a lease. The tenant must receive notice at least fifteen (15) calendar days, but not more than thirty (30) calendar days before the tenant would otherwise be required to give notice of intent to vacate.
When To Use a Wisconsin Notice of Lease Renewal or Extension
A Wisconsin Notice of Lease Renewal or Extension lets a tenant know of the landlord’s intention to renew a rental agreement or extend the term of a lease. This notice satisfies the landlord’s legal notice requirement for a renewal or extension provision in the lease.
This type of notice only applies to renewal or extension of a lease in good standing. For situations where the landlord and tenant are not in agreement, one of Wisconsin‘s lease termination notices or eviction notices may instead be appropriate.
How To Write a Wisconsin Notice of Lease Renewal or Extension
To help ensure the legal compliance of a Notice of Renewal or Extension:
- Use the full name of the receiving party, and address of record, if known
- Specify the current termination date of the lease or tenancy
- Detail the desired extension of the lease or tenancy
- Fill in the full address of the rental premises
- Provide updated/current address and phone number information
- Print name and sign the notice
- Complete the certificate of service by indicating the date and method of notice delivery, along with printed name and signature
It is easy to lose an otherwise justified legal action because of improper notice. Check carefully to ensure enough time after notice is delivered, not when it’s sent.
How To Serve a Wisconsin Notice of Lease Renewal or Extension
Wisconsin landlords may deliver a Notice of Renewal or Extension using any of these methods:
- Hand delivery to the other party
- Hand delivery to a family member of the other party at least age 14 on the property and informing them of the contents of the notice
- Hand delivery to someone in charge of or occupying the tenant’s address of record, PLUS delivery by mail
- Only after all hand delivery attempts fail: Posting at a conspicuous place on the premises, such as the entry door, PLUS delivery by mail
- Delivery by registered or certified mail to the tenant’s last known address
Counting for a notice period begins immediately upon delivery unless there is a mailed component. If the letter is mailed by regular mail, counting begins when the notice has been both mailed, and hand-delivered/posted. When delivering by registered or certified mail ONLY, counting begins on the 2nd calendar day after mailing (or 5th calendar day, if mailed out of state).
Sources
- 1 WI Stat § 704.15
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704.15 Requirement that landlord notify tenant of automatic renewal clause. A provision in a lease of residential property that the lease shall be automatically renewed or extended for a specified period unless the tenant or either party gives notice to the contrary prior to the end of the lease is not enforceable against the tenant unless the lessor, at least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the time specified for the giving of such notice to the lessor, gives to the tenant written notice in the same manner as specified in s. 704.21 calling the attention of the tenant to the existence of the provision in the lease for automatic renewal or extension.
Source Link - 2 Wis. Stat. § 704.21(1)
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(1)Notice by landlord. Notice by the landlord or a person in the landlord’s behalf must be given under this chapter by one of the following methods:
(a) By giving a copy of the notice personally to the tenant or by leaving a copy at the tenant’s usual place of abode in the presence of some competent member of the tenant’s family at least 14 years of age, who is informed of the contents of the notice;
(b) By leaving a copy with any competent person apparently in charge of the rented premises or occupying the premises or a part thereof, and by mailing a copy by regular or other mail to the tenant’s last-known address;
(c) If notice cannot be given under par. (a) or (b) with reasonable diligence, by affixing a copy of the notice in a conspicuous place on the rented premises where it can be conveniently read and by mailing a copy by regular or other mail to the tenant’s last-known address;
(d) By mailing a copy of the notice by registered or certified mail to the tenant at the tenant’s last-known address;
(e) By serving the tenant as prescribed in s. 801.11 for the service of a summons.
Source Link - 3 WI Stat § 704.19(7)
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(7) WHEN NOTICE GIVEN. Notice is given on the day specified below, which is counted as the first day of the notice period: Source Link(a) The day of giving or leaving under s. 704.21(1) (a) and (2) (a) and (b). (b) The day of leaving or affixing a copy or the date of mailing, whichever is later, under s. 704.21(1) (b) and (c). (c) The 2nd day after the day of mailing if the mail is addressed to a point within the state, and the 5th day after the day of mailing in all other cases, under s. 704.21(1) (d) and (2) (c). (d) The day of service under s. 704.21(1) (e) and (2) (d). (e) The day of actual receipt by the other party under s. 704.21(5).
