State Bar of Wisconsin's video: Eviction Moratoriums with Tristan Pettit

Tristan Pettit of Petrie + Pettit S.C., Milwaukee, concentrates his practice in the area of landlord-tenant law, representing landlords and property management companies. He notes that a state eviction moratorium has expired but a federal moratorium imposed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been extended to Jan. 31, 2021. “Essentially, it prohibits certain kinds of evictions from being filed. So if a landlord has been served with a declaration by the tenant attesting to meeting several conditions, then they cannot bring a failure to pay rent eviction,” Pettit said. He noted that landlords can still bring eviction actions for non-rent breaches of lease agreements. ‘It’s a learning lesson. Things are changing day by day, and every county is treating things a little differently,” Pettit noted. Pettit says landlords can encourage tenants to apply for various rental assistance programs to help them pay rent and help tenants facilitate that. He said there are assistance programs, at least in the Milwaukee area that can help. “The problem is if the tenants are not cooperative,” he said. “There’s not a lot you can do. You have to wait it out. Obviously that’s a problem for landlords because their bills continue to become due and they don’t have a moratorium.” Pettit said the most recent stimulus bill included $25 billion allocated for rental housing and that money should start being distributed today (Jan. 20, 2021). “Once that’s available, that should be very helpful for landlords,” said Pettit, noting that landlords themselves can fill out the applications on behalf of the tenant. More on the Wisconsin Landlord-Tenant Manual Practice tools. The Wisconsin Landlord-Tenant Manual (https://marketplace.wisbar.org/store/products/books/ak0439e01-wi-landlord-tenant-manual%2C-ed-1-rev-(fy21)/c-25/c-80/p-23090) is chock-full of sample forms, including numerous Wisconsin Legal Blank forms authored by attorney Tristan Pettit, and many Wisconsin court forms and guides. The chapters also contain many helpful practice tips. Especially for attorneys who address landlord-tenant issues on an infrequent basis, this book is the ideal easy reference to keep on hand. Real-world experience. The Manual provides both landlord and tenant perspectives so that you know how best to move forward. To the extent possible, the Manual provides practical knowledge and discussion of the differences among counties in applying state landlord-tenant law and local ordinances. Accessible to all audiences. Attorneys and non-attorneys alike can benefit from this book. Written in plain English, the book will inform non-attorneys of their rights and responsibilities and spell out a course of action for addressing the issue at hand. From college students to property management employees, the book can help answer questions such as: What do you do if your landlord refuses to make a repair? What must a landlord do when a tenant leaves property behind in the rental unit? What are lawful reasons for keeping a tenant’s deposit after they vacate a property? When must you have an attorney represent your interests in court? Also included is a glossary that explains basic landlord-tenant terms. Whether you’re handling your first eviction case, devote a large part of your legal practice to landlord-tenant law, regularly work with tenants, or are a tenant with questions about your rights and responsibilities, you’ll benefit from the Wisconsin Landlord & Tenant Manual’s comprehensive overview of the residential rental process.