All Forum Posts by: Mohan Deep

I am in Milwaukee, WI and I use the WLB lease format to sign fixed-term yearly leases with my tenants. Additionally, I have a "Notice to Vacate" section in my non-standard rental provisions indicating that tenant and landlord must provide a 2 full calendar month notice to vacate. 

At the end of the lease, do I have to provide a "notice to vacate" or does the lease expire automatically since it is a fixed-term lease? 

I have a tenant who moved out recently. The damages exceed their security deposit. I mailed them a security deposit statement using certified mail after 7 days of their move out. They refused that certified mail. Can anyone explain the process of recovering the damages? Should I hire a collection agency? If yes, do you have any recommendations in the Milwaukee, WI area? Should I do anything else?   

Quote from @Marcus Auerbach:

Wisconsin State law requires you to send an itemized security deposit deduction letter with 21 days, not 30.

By the way the RPA (rental property association) has the next Landlord bootcamp on April 13th - it's a whole day of legal training for property owners and managers. Sign up at RPAWI .org 

I have enever been able to recoup for damages beyond the security deposit. Goes back to better screening, regular inspections and better leases. I use Wisconsin Legal Blank. 

Good point Marcus. Based on your prior response to one of my posts, I bought WLB leases. I do have a question about this "itemized security deposit deduction letter". Do I have to share the invoices that I paid to various contractors to fix issues and copies of the receipts for the items I bought with this security deposit deduction letter? Or should I just keep those supporting documents with me in case it is needed in the future? 

Thanks, Grace.

Your response made me re-read my first question. It really should read as:

1. Given that the tenant's lawyer has requested me not to communicate with the tenant, should I send them a security deposit statement showing the amount they owe me? My statement will include the receipt of work completed. 

My tenant moved out but left a lot of damage to the property. After they moved out, they texted me saying that they filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy and that I should contact their lawyer. They gave me the lawyer's phone number to call. After talking to a legal analyst at the lawyers office, she indicated that I cannot communicate with my ex-tenant. I have not received any official notification from anyone, yet and the tenant is non-communicative. I have their security deposit but the damages are 3x the security deposit. The property is based in Milwaukee, WI. I saw a lot of threads that talk about tenants filing for bankruptcy while staying in the property but this is a slightly different situation. 

My specific questions are:

1. Am I still required to send a security deposit statement showing the amount they owe to me? 

2. Is there any hope for me to ever recoup my loss? 

3. What are my responsibilities and duties as a landlord in this case? 

Appreciate your input. 

I must provide them a statement within 21 days of anything that I am holding from their security deposit but the bill won't be generated for another 35 days. I can ask for a "final bill" to be generated. there is a fee of $75 to generate that and I don't know if I can pass it along to the tenant. Hence I came here asking for opinions. 

Tenant was responsible for 100% of the water bill. We pay directly and bill the tenant. The billing cycle does not coincide with the tenant's move-out date. how do you deduct the tenant's share of water from their security deposit?

Quote from @Lorien Rollins:

Yes, absolutely. I always complete the replacement during the turn and ensure that we test with the tenant while completing the inventory checklist upon move in. You can put it in the lease agreement under maintenance responsibilities. I have an addendum that gives detail on tenant responsibility versus landlord (me) responsibility. What state are you in? I'd be happy to draft and email you an addendum if you'd like!

Thanks @Lorien Rollins! I am in Wisconsin. 

Does anyone know if I can create a clause in my nonstandard rental provision to assign responsibility of changing the batteries in the smoke detector to the tenant? 

Quote from @Yocheved Beer:

@Mohan Deep what I mean is that you could get another loan

Thanks - Can you post an official link/reference from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac?