Rental Application in Wisconsin

A rental application that collects what landlords commonly ask for. Follow your state's limits on application fees and fair-housing rules: ask every applicant the same questions.

What Wisconsin law says

Application / screening fees	A landlord may charge only its actual cost, up to $25, for a consumer credit report from a nationwide agency, must tell the applicant about the charge beforehand, and must give the applicant a copy. No charge is allowed if the applicant provides a nationwide-agency credit report less than 30 days old. Non-residents may be charged actual cost up to $25 for a background check (with notice and a copy). Earnest money deposits may be taken only after identifying the unit, and must be refunded by the end of the next business day if the application is rejected or withdrawn or not approved within 3 business days (or up to 21 days if agreed in writing). ATCP 134 text: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/administrativecode/ch.%20ATCP%20134.pdf. Violations of ATCP 134 allow suit for twice the loss plus costs and attorney's fees (s. 100.20(5)). Source: Wis. Stat. 704.085; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.05
Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income	Partly. Wisconsin's open housing law bars housing discrimination based on 'lawful source of income,' but a federal appeals court held that federal rent vouchers (Section 8) are not clearly within that term, so voucher refusals are not clearly prohibited statewide. The official annotation to s. 106.50 summarizes Knapp as holding that federal rent vouchers are not clearly within 'lawful source of income.' Knapp is a federal court's reading of state law. Some cities and counties have their own fair housing ordinances, so check your local page. Source: Wis. Stat. 106.50; Knapp v. Eagle Property Management Corp., 54 F.3d 1272 (7th Cir. 1995) (annotation)

Application / screening fees

A landlord may charge only its actual cost, up to $25, for a consumer credit report from a nationwide agency, must tell the applicant about the charge beforehand, and must give the applicant a copy. No charge is allowed if the applicant provides a nationwide-agency credit report less than 30 days old. Non-residents may be charged actual cost up to $25 for a background check (with notice and a copy). Earnest money deposits may be taken only after identifying the unit, and must be refunded by the end of the next business day if the application is rejected or withdrawn or not approved within 3 business days (or up to 21 days if agreed in writing).

ATCP 134 text: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/administrativecode/ch.%20ATCP%20134.pdf. Violations of ATCP 134 allow suit for twice the loss plus costs and attorney's fees (s. 100.20(5)).

Source: Wis. Stat. 704.085; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.05

Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income

Partly. Wisconsin's open housing law bars housing discrimination based on 'lawful source of income,' but a federal appeals court held that federal rent vouchers (Section 8) are not clearly within that term, so voucher refusals are not clearly prohibited statewide.

The official annotation to s. 106.50 summarizes Knapp as holding that federal rent vouchers are not clearly within 'lawful source of income.' Knapp is a federal court's reading of state law. Some cities and counties have their own fair housing ordinances, so check your local page.

Source: Wis. Stat. 106.50; Knapp v. Eagle Property Management Corp., 54 F.3d 1272 (7th Cir. 1995) (annotation)

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RENTAL APPLICATION — [rental address]

Applicant name: [applicant name] Phone: [phone] Email: [email]

Current address: [current address] How long: [time at current address] Current rent: $[current rent]

Current landlord: [current landlord name and phone]

Previous address and landlord: [previous address and landlord]

Employer: [employer] Position: [position] Monthly income: $[monthly income] Other income (including housing vouchers or benefits): [other income]

Other adults who will live in the unit: [other adult occupants] Number of minors: [number of minors]

Pets or assistance animals: [pets] Vehicles: [vehicles]

Application fee: $[application fee] (see your state's rule above). Screening company used: [screening company name and contact]

I authorize the landlord to verify this information and obtain a tenant screening or credit report. Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]

Rental Application for other states · Wisconsin tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.