Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Superior

Find the right Tenant attorney in Superior, WI

Tenant Law in Wisconsin

In Superior, Wisconsin, it's not simple to be a tenant or a landlord, and relations between those parties can occasionally get testy.

Tenants and landlords have various legal rights and responsibilities. In general, these rights don't conflict with one another, as long as both parties are clear about what they are, and act accordingly.

Landlord's Rights in Superior, WI

First and foremost, landlords have a right to timely payment of rent from their tenants, at the agreed-upon rate. This, of course, imposes on tenants a duty to pay their rent in whole, in a timely manner.

Additionally, landlords can bill the tenant for any damage they cause to the unit, whether it was intentional or negligent. The costs of repairs for such damage can be deducted from a tenant's security deposit, but it should be noted that tenants aren't accountable for normal wear and tear, over which they have little control.

Tenant's Rights in Superior, WI

Tenants, most essentially, have a right to a habitable apartment. After all, this is what they're paying for. Superior, Wisconsin landlords are obligated to see that the units they rent to tenants are fit to be lived in by people. Many various defects might render an apartment uninhabitable, such as serious infestations and other problems with sanitation, lack of running water or electricity, or failure to provide adequate protection from the outside elements.

Tenants also have a right to ensure that the common areas of their apartment building are reasonably safe. Landlords are required to make sure that the common areas of their buildings meet Superior, Wisconsin's building codes, and that there are no conditions that create unnecessary safety hazards. They are obligated to make, at their own expense, the required repairs.

Under federal and Wisconsin law, tenants are also entitled to protection against discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, marital status, or gender. Such discrimination can lead to grave civil penalties against the landlord. Landlords further cannot discriminate against tenants based on physical disability, and have to make reasonable accommodations for physically disabled tenants. For instance, they have to allow disabled tenants to make minor physical alterations to the unit (at the tenant's expense) to make it more accessible. Now, they don't need to allow the tenants to have the building remodeled. We're just talking about things like installing handrails in the bathroom, and similar things. The landlord can, however, require tenants to restore the apartment to its original condition, at the tenant's expense, once the tenant leaves.

Lastly, tenants are legally protected from arbitrary eviction. Landlords typically must have a very good reason to evict a tenant before the lease agreement reaches the end of its term (at this point, they are of course allowed to decline to renew the lease). Of course, if the tenant breaches the lease agreement (such as by failing to pay rent, damaging the property, or violating other reasonable rules the landlord has put in the lease), the landlord, like a party to any other contract, is free to terminate the agreement and evict the breaching tenant.

Can a Superior, Wisconsin Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants generally want to avoid conflict with one another. Nonetheless, conflicts are sometimes unavoidable. If you end up in a major dispute with a landlord or a tenant, a seasoned Superior, Wisconsin landlord/tenant attorney can help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Superior

Superior is the county seat for Douglas County, Washington. It has a population of about 27,000 and was founded as early as 1854. The city is known for its location at the west end of Lake Superior. It is also bordered by St. Louis Bay, Superior Bay, and two rivers.

As you can probably tell, water activities dominate the economy and culture of the city of Superior. One of the most popular tourist destinations is Barker's Island, which is the focal point of the city's recreation activities. The area includes a marina, a boat landing, swimming areas, and beaches. For many decades Superior has been the destination for boating and sailing vessels across the nation.

Superior also is known for its monuments and museums. The city has done well to preserve historic sea vessels such as the S.S. Meteor, built back in 1896. Further learning about American history can be had at the Fairlawn Museum.

Lawyers in Superior generally file legal claims at the Douglas County Circuit Court. In the city of Superior, some lawyers also participate in the local festivities, such as the annual Dragon Boat Festival.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Nicholas M.
Nicholas M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Golden, CO

Carl M.
Carl M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Seattle, WA

David A.
David A.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Walnut Creek, CA