For many UW-Madison students, the move to Madison has them dealing with landlords for the first time. And with the rental season in full swing, many students need to keep their rights in mind while looking at prospective apartments.
While some landlords work well with their tenants, there are some who fail to provide for renters’ needs. Dealing with uncooperative landlords can be a frustrating ordeal, and many students don’t know their rights regarding forcing a landlord to fulfill their obligations.
Fortunately, the Tenant Resource Center has been created to assist students and renters in dealing with their landlords. The TRC, a nonprofit organization designed to provide basic assistance to both landlords and renters, offers information to tenants and landlords about their renting rights and responsibilities through various publications about apartment management and tenant’s rights.
The TRC is primarily staffed by volunteers who have been given a basic overview of state and local tenant/landlord laws. However, because there are no attorneys on the TRC payroll, they are limited in the information they can give.
“We give basic information about what actions renters or landlords can pursue and what the various outcomes could be,” TRC Program Director Megin Hicks said. “But we can’t give legal advice, so it is ultimately up to the person to make the decision about what to do.”
Traditionally, the winter and summer months are slower because students are out of town and not looking at renting. However, around moving day in August the TRC fields about 150 calls each day.
“We always try to return phone calls, but sometimes we can’t get through,” Hicks said. “I would say we talk to an average of 35 people a day during those months.”
The most common questions students have concern security deposits, repairs and evictions.
“During September people call with questions about what a landlord can legally deduct from their security deposit,” Hicks said. “We can tell them what can be deducted, but we can’t tell them to pursue any specific course of action.”
Ultimately the TRC is designed to give renters information and to refer them to other agencies with more experience and who can enforce regulations.
Hicks said the center’s primary tasks are to inform, refer, educate and provide outreach. Because the TRC is not a governmental agency, they don’t have the power to enforce laws, she said.
Students have expressed a general satisfaction with the services provided by the TRC.
“The TRC was very helpful when my landlord tried to evict me last year,” UW senior Stuart Zander. “Without them, I probably would have been living in Peace Park.”
There are a few important facts for renters to know: Late fees must be limited to 5% of the specific month’s rent; landlords are required to make known all guest policies to tenants in writing; landlords are required to install storm doors/windows on all exterior doors/windows by Nov. 15; landlords can proceed with evictions for nonpayment or other lease violations any time of the year; and landlords must return security deposits within 21 days of the expiration of a lease. All deductions must be itemized.
The TRC is located at 1202 Williamson St. Students with questions or concerns can stop by the office or call the counseling line at 257-0006.