Wisconsin Landlord Selling the House
Wisconsin rules on landlord selling the house for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: A landlord's interest can be transferred (for example, by sale) unless the lease expressly restricts it, and the lease's terms that are not personal to the original parties stay enforceable by and against the new owner. Wis. Stat. § 704.09(1), (3), (4)
The rules in Wisconsin
| If the landlord sells the property | A landlord's interest can be transferred (for example, by sale) unless the lease expressly restricts it, and the lease's terms that are not personal to the original parties stay enforceable by and against the new owner. A new owner is liable for, or can recover for, breaches that happen while it owns the property, and the same court remedies apply between the tenant and the new owner. The statute does not set a specific security-deposit transfer procedure. Unless the lease says otherwise, a transfer does not release the original party from its contract obligations (§ 704.09(2)). Source: Wis. Stat. § 704.09(1), (3), (4) |
|---|---|
| Tenants in foreclosure | No statute — neither the landlord-tenant chapter (ch. 704) nor the real estate foreclosure chapter (ch. 846) contains tenant-specific foreclosure protections. The federal PTFA (90-day notice; bona fide leases honored to term, with exceptions) governs. Searched ch. 846 text (certified Oct. 1, 2026) for tenant/lessee/occupant provisions; none found. |
Related questions
Wisconsin vs. neighboring states
| State | If the landlord sells the property | Tenants in foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | A landlord's interest can be transferred (for example, by sale) unless the lease expressly restricts it, and the lease's terms that are not personal to the original parties stay enforceable by and against the new owner. A new owner is liable for, or can recover for, breaches that happen while it owns the property, and the same court remedies apply between the tenant and the new owner. The statute does not set a specific security-deposit transfer procedure. Wis. Stat. § 704.09(1), (3), (4) | No statute — neither the landlord-tenant chapter (ch. 704) nor the real estate foreclosure chapter (ch. 846) contains tenant-specific foreclosure protections. The federal PTFA (90-day notice; bona fide leases honored to term, with exceptions) governs. Wis. Stat. ch. 704; ch. 846 (checked) |
| Illinois | Not verified yet | Yes, beyond the federal PTFA. A new owner after foreclosure (mortgagee, receiver, certificate or deed holder, or sale purchaser) may end a bona fide residential lease only at the end of its term, with at least 90 days' written notice. Month-to-month or week-to-week bona fide leases also require at least 90 days' written notice. An individual buyer who will live in the unit may end the lease on 90 days' notice. For occupants not named in the foreclosure: if the occupant is current on rent, was never told in writing where to pay, or made good-faith efforts to pay, any eviction order must let them stay for the shorter of 120 days after notice of the hearing or the rest of the lease (at least 30 days). Records of these eviction cases are sealed. 735 ILCS 5/9-207.5; 735 ILCS 5/15-1701(h) |
| Iowa | When a landlord's interest ends (for example, by sale), the landlord must within a reasonable time either transfer the rental deposit (minus lawful deductions) to the successor and tell the tenant the new owner's name and address, or return the deposit to the tenant. The successor then has the landlord's rights and duties for the deposit; if the tenant does not object within 20 days after written notice of the amount transferred, the successor's duty is limited to that amount. A landlord who sells in good faith to a bona fide buyer is released from liability under the lease for events after giving the tenant written notice of the sale, unless otherwise agreed. Iowa Code §§ 562A.12(5)-(6), 562A.16(1) | Not verified yet |
| Michigan | When a landlord's interest in a rental unit ends by sale, assignment, death, receivership or otherwise, the landlord (or agent) stays liable for the security deposit until one of these happens: the deposit is transferred to the new owner and the tenant is notified by ordinary mail of the transfer and the new owner's name and address; the new owner complies with the deposit-security requirements of the act (section 4); or the deposit is returned to the tenant. MCL 554.614 | No Michigan statute grants tenants special notice beyond eviction law. After a foreclosure sale, the occupant can be removed by summary proceedings only once the redemption period ends, which is usually 6 months for 1-4 unit homes (1 month or 30 days if abandoned; 1 year in some cases). During redemption, the buyer may inspect on 72 hours' notice. Federal PTFA 90-day notice protections apply separately. MCL 600.5714(1)(g); MCL 600.3240(7)-(12); MCL 600.3238 |
| Minnesota | When a landlord's interest ends by sale, assignment, death, receivership or otherwise, the landlord's successor takes on all of the landlord's rights and obligations for the security deposit. If the tenant gets written notice of the deposit amount being transferred or assumed (with a stamped envelope addressed to the successor) and does not object within 20 days, the successor's duty to return the deposit is limited to the amount stated in the notice. Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 6 | After a foreclosure redemption period ends, the successor must give a tenant at least 90 days' written notice to vacate. A bona fide lease running more than 90 days past redemption must be honored to the end of its term, unless the new owner will live there (then 90 days). Contract-for-deed cancellation requires 2 months' notice. A landlord that has received a foreclosure or contract-for-deed cancellation notice may sign only short leases (no longer than the redemption period) and must tell prospective tenants in writing before taking rent or a deposit ($500 penalty). Minn. Stat. § 504B.285, subd. 1a, 1b; § 504B.151 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Wisconsin Landlord Selling the House FAQ
What happens to my lease if my landlord sells the house in Wisconsin?
A landlord's interest can be transferred (for example, by sale) unless the lease expressly restricts it, and the lease's terms that are not personal to the original parties stay enforceable by and against the new owner. A new owner is liable for, or can recover for, breaches that happen while it owns the property, and the same court remedies apply between the tenant and the new owner. The statute does not set a specific security-deposit transfer procedure. (Wis. Stat. § 704.09(1), (3), (4))
What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in Wisconsin?
No statute — neither the landlord-tenant chapter (ch. 704) nor the real estate foreclosure chapter (ch. 846) contains tenant-specific foreclosure protections. The federal PTFA (90-day notice; bona fide leases honored to term, with exceptions) governs. (Wis. Stat. ch. 704; ch. 846 (checked))
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.