As I See It
More protections for landlords, fewer for tenants
Wisconsin lawmakers have crafted legislation in recent years to make life easier for landlords, and harder for tenants. The city of La Crosse, which used to require landlords register their properties and have them regular inspected by the city, has ended that after mandates from the state. Now lawmakers in Madison are again trying to make it easier for landlords to do business in the state, while reducing protections for tenants. A bill authored by Rep. Rob Brooks could end up leading to victims of abuse being evicted from their homes more quickly. Under current law, Wisconsin courts can block the eviction of domestic abuse victims and other tenants who are waiting to get help through an emergency assistance program. Brooks’ bill would put a five day limit on those court-imposed holds. Really? Get beat up by your boyfriend and get an eviction notice? This puts victims in harms way. This bill doesn’t stop there. It also would make it harder for people to force landlords to accept pets by claiming they are emotional support animals. Suffering from PTSD? Fido has to go. This legislation is part of a growing trend of pro-landlord, anti-tenant legislation. It seems there are plenty of legal protections in place for Wisconsin landlords. Where is the legislation that protects the tenants, especially those who suffer abuse or need a pet to help them make it through the day?
Jeff Pralle
January 5, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Your comment today was full is misinformation. Don’t you check the facts before you make your comments???
1. The bill from Rep Brooks does not make it easier to evict a tenant who is a victim of abuse. I was under his legislation along with help from the Wisconsin Apartment Assoc. and others that crafted a bill making it against the law to evict a victim of domestic abuse. That is your first misinformation. Were you got your information was incorrect in their representation of the bill, it only had to do with normal evictions, including the perpetrator of the abuse.
2. Service Animals/Emotional Support Animals. Another one you got wrong. The legislation proposed is to eliminate the imposer and fake animals for those who want to avoid pet fees or not pet policies. Those with a legitimate need are always and have always been welcome. (The airlines, hotels and restaurants have these problems as well, big time).
Landlords do not want to evict people, turnover cost are huge. 90+% of evictions are for non payment of rent.
I just ask that you check your facts before putting such information out to the public. Don’t speak what you want us to think speak what is actually accurate.
I was at the public hear and spoke as well. I would be happy to give you information on what happened that day.