News
Alder proposes documentation
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Cara Harshman:
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
The days of accusations of landlords falsely charging tenants for property damage may end if a proposal to require photographic proof of the damages passes tomorrow night at the Housing Committee meeting. >
Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, crafted and introduced the photo ordinance last year to stop landlords from inventing damages and deducting from tenants’ security deposits.
“It shows that things landlords claimed actually happened,” Judge said.
The photo ordinance would require all landlords in Madison to present photographic proof of any property damage in order to deduct from a tenant’s security deposit — the money a tenant puts down before signing the lease. It is kept as a guarantee the tenant will not damage the apartment and pay the rent.
Currently, landlords do not need to present proof of damage to take money out of a tenant’s security deposit.
Working with students throughout Madison and landlords who manage massive developments like the Embassy, Judge said he has heard nothing but praise for the photo ordinance. “Many students have told me, ‘This isn’t a law already?’” Judge added.
According to Judge, complaints come from landlords of smaller properties who say the ordinance constitutes over-regulation and would be an added burden.
Lee Glauser, a University of Wisconsin senior, lived at La Ciel two years ago and experienced a landlord deducting $100-200 from his security deposit because the cleanliness of his refrigerator and dish washer were not “up to their standards.”
“It was ridiculous,” Glauser said. La Ciel is under new management now, he added.
The Housing Committee will discuss the photo ordinance, with a few new “more owner-friendly” amendments at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Madison Municipal building. Judge said he encourages students to attend and to share their feedback.
“This is a very important student issue,” Judge said. “It’s really something that should and needs to be done.”
4 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Brother Ali makes an ‘Exclusive’ stop
Muckrakers
Report: Barrett to make decision by the end of the week
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com
521 W Dayton 4BR/2BA. Marble showers, dishwasher, completely updated! madisoncampusrentals.com
1, 2, or 3 bedroom apartment available for spring 2010. meltzer@wisc.edu if you are interested!
Maybe this will make MPM stop fabricating or trumping up charges:
One-hundred dollar charge to have a door fixed that was barely broken? Gee thanks, I’ll do it myself for eight dollars.
Or how about having both the office workers and carpenters assure me that repairs will not be a tenant-charge… and then go ahead and charge me for it anyways, two years later?
Or, when I ask for a single spot to be touched up with paint, they decide to paint the entire room and charge me for it?
Really, great step.
Great work, Eli
This is hardly new news.
It’s one of the most significant student-focused, tenant right ordinances in years. It’s great news, not hardly.