Rental Resources

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    Persons who are paid or otherwise compensated to rent property and negotiate and sign leases for the owner fall within the definition of a broker under Wis. Stat. § 452.01(2). This statute states that a broker includes “any person who for another, and for commission, money or other thing of value, negotiates or offers or attempts to negotiate a sale, exchange, purchase or rental of an interest or estate in real estate.” This definition includes persons negotiating the terms of a rental interest in real estate. If the negotiation of lease terms or the drafting and signing of leases for another is involved, licensure is required. A property manager who signs or negotiates leases on behalf of a property owner must either be a licensed broker or be a licensed salesperson associated with a brokerage firm.  Brokers also must have proper agency authority — typically a Property Management Agreement, a WB-37 Residential Listing Contract — Exclusive Right to Rent or an Exclusive Listing Contract Right to Rent Commercial Property — to provide property management services.

    For information about short-term rentals, please see the short-term rental resource page.

    Short-term rental resources (new for 2023)

    For questions or concerns about a proposed or existing short-term rental ordinance, contact the WRA Legal Action Program.

    WRA legal resources

    Wisconsin residential rental statutes and rules

    HUD guidance for use of criminal records in tenant screening

    DATCP resources and fact sheets  

    WRA forms and products

    Apartment associations

    NAR resources

    Federal rental housing information

    Farm lease information

    Tenant resource center

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