Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Salem Lakes is a village in Kenosha County formed by the 2017 merger of the villages of Salem and Silver Lake. Situated between Kenosha and the Illinois border, Salem Lakes has grown steadily as a suburban community attracting renters who work in the broader Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee corridor. Renters in Salem Lakes are governed entirely by Wisconsin state landlord-tenant law, found primarily in Wis. Stat. ch. 704, which provides clear rules on security deposits, habitability, notice, and eviction.
The most common questions Salem Lakes renters ask involve security deposit returns, how much notice a landlord must give before a tenancy ends, and what to do when a landlord refuses to make repairs. This page addresses each of those topics with citations to the specific Wisconsin statutes that apply to every rental in the village.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights law can change, and individual situations vary. If you face an eviction or a significant dispute with your landlord, contact a qualified attorney or a legal aid organization serving Kenosha County.
Salem Lakes has no rent control, and Wisconsin state law prohibits local governments from enacting any rent control ordinance. Wis. Stat. § 66.1015 expressly bars municipalities and counties from regulating the amount of rent a landlord may charge. This preemption applies to every city, village, and town in Wisconsin, including Salem Lakes.
In practice, this means a landlord in Salem Lakes may increase rent by any dollar amount at any time — there is no cap, no required justification, and no local board to appeal to. The only meaningful restriction is procedural: for a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord must provide at least 28 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect (Wis. Stat. § 704.19). For fixed-term leases, rent generally cannot be raised until the lease term ends, unless the lease itself permits mid-term increases.
Renters who receive a large rent increase have no legal remedy under Wisconsin law to challenge the amount itself. However, if an increase is delivered as retaliation for a protected act — such as reporting a code violation — Wis. Stat. § 704.45 may provide a defense. Otherwise, a tenant's options are to accept the new rent, negotiate with the landlord, or provide proper notice and vacate.
Wisconsin's landlord-tenant statutes (Wis. Stat. ch. 704) provide Salem Lakes renters with several substantive protections, summarized below.
Habitability and Repairs (Wis. Stat. § 704.07): Landlords in Wisconsin must keep rental units in a reasonable state of repair and must comply with local housing codes that materially affect health or safety. If a landlord fails to maintain the premises after receiving written notice of the defect, a tenant may have the right to withhold rent, arrange for repairs and deduct the cost from rent, or terminate the lease — depending on the severity of the deficiency. Tenants must give the landlord a reasonable time to cure the problem after written notice before exercising these remedies.
Security Deposit Rules (Wis. Stat. § 704.28): Wisconsin imposes no dollar cap on security deposits, but landlords must return the deposit — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 21 days of the tenant vacating. Wrongful withholding entitles the tenant to twice the amount improperly withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Wis. Stat. § 704.19): Either party must give at least 28 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, the required notice period is at least five days. Fixed-term leases expire at the end of the stated term without further notice, unless the lease provides otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Wis. Stat. § 704.45): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting a code violation, joining a tenant organization, or exercising any other legal right. If a landlord takes an adverse action — such as raising rent, reducing services, or initiating an eviction — within six months of a protected act, Wisconsin law creates a rebuttable presumption that the action was retaliatory. A tenant who prevails on a retaliation claim may recover actual damages and, in some circumstances, attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Wis. Stat. § 704.11): Self-help eviction is illegal in Wisconsin. A landlord may not remove a tenant's belongings, change the locks, or deliberately shut off utilities to force a tenant out. A tenant subjected to an unlawful lockout is entitled to recover actual damages plus punitive damages of up to two months' rent.
Wisconsin does not cap the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit, so Salem Lakes landlords may require any amount they choose. However, once collected, that deposit is strictly regulated by Wis. Stat. § 704.28.
Return deadline: Within 21 days after the tenant vacates (or after the landlord learns the tenant has vacated, whichever is later), the landlord must return the full deposit or mail an itemized written statement explaining each deduction along with any remaining balance. The 21-day clock generally starts on the date the tenant returns the keys or otherwise surrenders possession.
Permissible deductions: Under Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06, landlords may only deduct for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other costs specifically authorized by a written rental agreement. Deductions for normal wear and tear — such as minor scuffs, carpet wear from ordinary use, or small nail holes — are not permitted.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement within 21 days, or makes deductions that are not permitted, Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4) entitles the tenant to recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees, in a small claims action. This double-damages remedy is a powerful incentive for landlords to comply promptly.
Practical tip: Document the condition of your unit thoroughly at move-in and move-out with dated photographs and a written checklist signed by both parties. This evidence is critical in any dispute over deductions.
A landlord in Salem Lakes must follow Wisconsin's formal eviction process under Wis. Stat. ch. 799 and ch. 704. Skipping steps or resorting to self-help is illegal and exposes the landlord to liability.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing the Eviction Action: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction (unlawful detainer) complaint in Kenosha County Circuit Court Small Claims Division. The court will schedule a hearing, typically within 25 days of filing (Wis. Stat. § 799.206).
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties may present their case at the hearing. Tenants have the right to assert defenses, including improper notice, retaliation (Wis. Stat. § 704.45), or the landlord's failure to maintain the premises (Wis. Stat. § 704.07). If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it will issue a judgment of eviction and a writ of restitution.
Step 4 — Writ of Restitution: The sheriff's office, not the landlord, enforces the writ. The tenant typically receives at least five days to vacate before the writ is executed (Wis. Stat. § 799.44).
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under Wis. Stat. § 704.11, a landlord may never change locks, remove doors or windows, shut off utilities, or remove a tenant's possessions to force a move-out. A tenant subjected to such conduct may recover actual damages plus up to two months' rent in punitive damages.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws change, local ordinances may be enacted or amended, and individual circumstances vary. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other significant landlord-tenant issue in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin, you should consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney or contact a legal aid organization serving Kenosha County. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.