From: Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM)
June Virtual Information Session
Prefer to call-in only (no video)?
Notice: HUD Mandate for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Effective immediately, all sleeping rooms within units on the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program as well as living rooms, dining rooms and each floor of a unit must have a 10-year sealed battery smoke detector installed in order to pass a HACM-conducted inspection. In addition, 10-year sealed battery carbon monoxide detectors must be on each floor and within 21 feet of any gas appliance.
This is a HUD mandate that went into effect on December 29, 2024 and is part of the new NSPIRE Standards — most of which are set to go into effect October 1, 2025. For more information, see NSPIRE Standards | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Note: A smoke detector installed outside of a sleeping room (i.e., in the hallway, within 6 feet of the bedroom) will no longer receive a pass rating during inspection. Also, if the living room and dining room are adjoined, only one smoke detector is required for both rooms.
Direct Deposit Only for All July 2025 Payments
As was first announced in January, and in each monthly communication since, beginning July 1, 2025, HACM will only issue Housing Assistance Payments through direct deposit. Therefore, if you are a property owner/manager and have yet to set up Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) via your Landlord Portal account, you must do so no later than June 23 in order to receive your HAP in July.
Update: Recertification and Lease Renewal Processing
We ask for your continued patience as we work through our backlog of recertifications. Landlords will continue to receive payments for 3 months after the lease expired under the terms of the expiring leases. When the tenant’s lease renewal is complete, a copy will be sent to both parties and any payment adjustments going back to the renewal date will be made at that time.
Landlord Portal: New Features Now Available
Great news! The next time you log into the Landlord Portal, not only will you be able to access real-time information about your HACM HCV Program account, but you will also be able to view inspection reports and submit rent increase requests, if eligible ... all without having to call, email or come into the office.
Inspection Reports are now available via the 'Attachments' icon on your dashboard. These are typically posted the next business day following the inspection.
To submit a Rent Increase Request, simply click the 'Rent Increase Request' icon on your dashboard (see image below) and follow the on-screen instructions.
By Mike Scarcella, Reuters
Read Full Article Here
A U.S. federal appeals court ruled Friday that the United States must face potentially billions of dollars in legal claims over a temporary ban on residential evictions during the COVID pandemic that affected millions of landlords.
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a 7-3 decision, opens new tab rejected the government's bid to overturn a decision by a panel of judges last year that refused to dismiss claims from landlords seeking compensation over the eviction moratorium.
Damages have been estimated at tens of billions of dollars, as rental property owners were blocked from evicting people who were not paying rent.
By Atty. Gary D. Koch of Pettit Law Group S.C.
See the Full Article on Tristan's Blog Here
If you are a landlord in Wisconsin, you’ve no doubt heard about the Koble Investments case now pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Since the decision was published, Koble successfully petitioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review, and hopefully overturn, the Court of Appeals decision.
Several interested entities, who are not parties to the action, have asked the Supreme Court to allow them to file Amicus, or “friend of the court”, Briefs to help guide the Supreme Court through the complicated issues and their potential ramifications on Wisconsin’s Landlord / Tenant landscape.
After June 9, the Supreme Court will likely schedule the case for oral argument, where the parties’ attorneys will present their arguments to the Court and field questions from the Justices regarding their positions. After oral argument, the Supreme Court will issue an Opinion.
There is no time frame for the Court to schedule oral argument or issue its Opinion, so we will continue to monitor the case and provide updates as it progresses.
By Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Republicans leading the bill say business and property owners have reported higher cases of emotional support and service animal misrepresentation, with owners using fake harnesses or vests.
The bill would enshrine in law landlords' ability to ask tenants for documentation showing a prescription for an emotional support animal. Tenants who provide false documentation or health care providers who don't have a 30-day, established relationship with the patient could face a $500 fine.
When: May 20, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Where: Virtual Online Meeting
Agenda: Presentation from Mediate Wisconsin, Milwaukee Justice Center, and Rental Housing Resource Center on eviction alternatives and legal resources for housing providers in Milwaukee County.
REGISTER HERE
What's happening in other states may alarm you.
Here are 2 bills introduced in Massachusetts:
HB1901: Fining Landlords for Tenant Drug Use
House Bill 1901 would impose fines on landlords if tenants use or store illegal drugs on their properties, regardless of whether the landlord is aware of the activity. This measure seeks to curb drug-related issues in rental properties by holding property owners accountable. Critics argue that penalizing landlords without their knowledge is unjust and could discourage property investment or lead to overly intrusive tenant monitoring. Supporters claim it incentivizes landlords to maintain safer environments, though the bill’s lack of clarity on enforcement or landlord protections remains contentious.
HB2246: Landlord Liability for Police Responses
House Bill 2246 goes further, making landlords financially responsible for the costs of police responses to their properties, no matter who initiates the call or the reason behind it. This could include incidents ranging from domestic disputes to noise complaints, even if the landlord has no control over the situation. Proponents argue that this bill encourages landlords to screen tenants more carefully and address issues proactively. However, opponents warn that it could unfairly burden landlords with unpredictable costs, particularly in high-crime areas, and may deter property owners from renting to certain tenants or operating in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Here is a bill introduced in Illinois:
HB3564: Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act
Prohibits a landlord from imposing a move-in fee. Provides that a landlord may not demand any charge for the processing, reviewing, or accepting of an application, or demand any other payment, fee, or charge before or at the beginning of the tenancy. Limits late fees to $10 for the first $1000 in monthly rent, and then 5% for everything more than $1000.
Here is what's happening in Washington:
Washington Joins Ranks of States Enacting Statewide Rent Control
Washington State has approved a new rent control measure, capping annual rent increases at the lesser of 7% plus inflation or 10%, with stricter limits for manufactured housing.
The law exempts buildings less than 12 years old and is paired with expanded tax incentives for developers focused on affordable housing.
Read the Full Article Here
Study by Legal Services Corporation, Office of Data Governance and Analysis
Read 10-Page Paper Here
Summary:
More than one-third of all occupied residences in the United States are rentals, home to over 45 million households.
Landlords, as the owners of these rental properties, provide a critical resource: affordable rental housing for individuals and families with limited incomes.
About 70% of all landlords are small, “mom-and-pop” landlords who own four or fewer rental properties and often rely on timely rent to cover mortgage costs and property expenses.
MYTH 1: Eviction filings are a quick way to recover unpaid rent.
REALITY: Eviction filings take weeks or months and landlords rarely recover all unpaid rent.
MYTH 2: Landlords file evictions on a whim.
REALITY: Landlords typically explore other options with their tenants before filing for eviction.
MYTH 3: Eviction is a cost-effective way to manage risk.
REALITY: Far from being a cost-effective strategy for managing the risk of rent disruptions, evictions increase risk for landlords.
MYTH 4: Eviction only hurts the tenant.
REALITY: Both tenant and landlord lose.
Matt Desmond, author of book “Evicted,” will be speaking at UWM on Wednesday 4/30. The event is free and open to the public (not just students and faculty).
When:
April 30, 2025 | 6:30PM
Where:
UWM Student Union, Wisconsin Room
2200 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Milwaukee County Housing Services April Town Hall is featuring a Fair Housing presentation from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Fair Housing Council (MMFHC).
Agenda:
This is an online event.
Register Here
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