MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Today, David Crowley announced the Fair Deal for Wisconsin Renters to protect renters from greedy and unfair landlords and college students from unreasonable leasing situations. Crowley’s plan also includes a Student Renters Bill of Rights to prevent landlords in Wisconsin’s college towns from pressuring students to sign year-long leases and put down deposits in the fall for housing they won’t move into until the next year and require safeguards for campus housing. 

“I rented my whole life before I became County Executive, so I know how unfair the system is to renters,” said Crowley. “Good landlords have nothing to fear from rules that hold bad ones accountable, and my Fair Deal for Wisconsin Renters plan will protect college students with a first-of-its-kind Student Renters Bill of Rights and implement stronger safeguards for renters across the state while lowering housing costs.” 

“Every year, college students across Wisconsin face the same stress: we are forced to make massive housing decisions months in advance with no way to afford them,” said College Democrats President Emma Steffen. “David Crowley’s Student Renters Bill of Rights changes that. He is the only candidate in this race with a housing plan that actually puts students first—giving us the power to plan ahead, the right to renew our leases, and the safe living conditions we deserve.” 

David’s Fair Deal for Wisconsin Renters: 

  1. Let cities protect their residents again by restoring local authority to inspect rentals and crack down on repeat violators.
  2. Stop runaway rent increases with a reasonable annual cap that exempts new construction.
  3. Make repairs happen by giving tenants real remedies when landlords ignore problems.
  4. Bring fairness to evictions with longer notice, a right to fix problems, and access to a lawyer.
  5. End junk fees and rent-fixing software that drive up costs behind the scenes.
  6. Protect student renters from high-pressure early leasing, deposit skimming, and unfair roommate liability.

One in three Wisconsin households are rented and Wisconsin renters pay too much and receive fewer protections than they had fifteen years ago. As it stands, Wisconsin law places no limit on rent increases at renewal and does not require a landlord to renew a lease or give a reason for refusing. Tenants have limited power to withhold rent when repairs are ignored and cities that want to step in are barred by state law from doing most of what they once did. As governor, David Crowley will work for Wisconsin renters, not the special interests that rewrote the rules, and restore balance for working Wisconsinites.