Wisconsin Tenant Harassment Laws

Wisconsin prohibits landlord retaliation under Wis. Stat. § 704.45[confirmed ] and self-help evictions under Wisconsin's consumer protection regulations (ATCP 134).

Key Rules

Retaliation Prohibited
Yes — retaliatory rent increases, evictions, and service reductions prohibited
Self Help Prohibited
Yes — lease provisions allowing self-help eviction are void; court process required
Remedies
Actual damages, 2 months rent minimum, attorney's fees under ATCP 134
Consumer Protection
ATCP 134 provides additional consumer protection remedies for landlord violations

Some citations below have not been confirmed against their official source. Confirm current requirements with local legal aid or an attorney.

Applicable Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 704.45

Retaliatory acts by landlord prohibited: landlord may not increase rent, decrease services, or threaten eviction in retaliation for tenant reporting housing code violations or exercising rights.

Source confirmed · Official state source

View archived excerpt
“704.45704.45 Retaliatory conduct in residential tenancies prohibited. 704.45(1)(1) Except as provided in sub. (2), a landlord in a residential tenancy may not increase rent, decrease services, bring an action for possession of…”

Wis. Stat. § 704.44

Provisions making rental agreements void or voidable: agreements waiving tenant's right to habitable premises or allowing self-help eviction are void as against public policy.

Not confirmed against its source · checked

Legal Aid Resources

Tenant Resource Center

608-257-0006

Dane County / Madison area

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