Provide Overall Handout and Handout 1: Repairs and Government Regulations before beginning the module.
Suggested Introduction
Who is responsible for changing lightbulbs in the rental unit? Who is responsible for fixing a broken window? Do tenants need insurance? Is it the tenant or the landlord? Don’t know? You are not alone. Questions about responsibility for upkeep and repairs are among the chief topics of discussion for both tenants and landlords alike. This module explores these questions and offers some ideas for keeping responsibilities clear within the rental team.
Responsibility for the care and repair of a rental property are shared by the landlord and tenant. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is responsible for administering landlord-tenant regulations in the state. The regulations are in the Wisconsin Administrative Code ATCP134, Residential Rental Practices. The regulation sets out some of the responsibilities of landlords and tenants with regard to care and repair. Most municipalities also have housing codes that establish minimum quality standards that landlords must meet for residential rental properties. Handout 1: Repairs and Government Regulations lists some of the care and repair requirements of landlords and tenants.
Activities
Activity 1: Who is Responsible?
Activity 2: Check-In/Check-Out Forms
Activity 3: Record Keeping
Activity 4: Renter’s Insurance
Activity 5: Caring for Your Living Space
Learning Assessment
Have participants learned the key concepts of this Rent Smart module? The following questions or activities are recommended to assess participant understanding of the information covered in this module.
- List the 4 Keys to Determining Responsibility.
- From the “Who is Responsible?” Activity—select two repairs—ask who is responsible and why for each.
- Ask participants to identify “What can happen if a tenant does not care for their living space?”
