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Verona, Wisconsin is a city of roughly 15,000 residents in Dane County, situated just southwest of Madison. The city's rapid growth — driven largely by Epic Systems' sprawling campus — has attracted a significant renter population, many of whom are employees, contractors, and students seeking housing close to the region's largest employer. As rental demand has increased, understanding your rights as a tenant has never been more important.
Wisconsin's landlord-tenant law is found primarily in Wis. Stat. Chapter 704, which governs everything from security deposits and habitability to eviction procedures and retaliation protections. Verona has no local tenant rights ordinances beyond what state law provides, so renters here rely entirely on Wisconsin's statewide framework. Among the most common questions Verona renters have are how much notice a landlord must give before raising rent or ending a tenancy, how quickly a security deposit must be returned, and what to do when a landlord refuses to make repairs.
This page summarizes the tenant protections that apply in Verona, Wisconsin. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may require guidance from a qualified attorney or legal aid organization.
Verona has no rent control, and Wisconsin state law prohibits any city, village, town, or county from enacting rent control ordinances. This prohibition is codified at Wis. Stat. § 66.1015, which states that no local government unit may regulate rents charged by landlords for residential rental property. This statewide preemption means that even if Verona's city government wanted to limit how much landlords could raise rents, it would be legally barred from doing so.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Verona can raise your rent by any amount — there is no cap, no percentage limit, and no required justification. The only constraint is notice: for a month-to-month tenancy, the landlord must give you at least 28 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect, per Wis. Stat. § 704.19. For a fixed-term lease, the landlord generally cannot raise rent until the lease term ends, unless the lease specifically allows for mid-term increases.
Renters in Verona facing steep rent increases have limited options under current law. If an increase feels retaliatory — for example, if it follows a complaint about housing code violations — Wisconsin's anti-retaliation statute (Wis. Stat. § 704.45) may offer protection. Otherwise, renters facing unaffordable increases may need to negotiate directly with their landlord or seek alternative housing.
Wisconsin's statewide tenant protections under Wis. Stat. Chapter 704 apply fully to renters in Verona. The key protections are summarized below.
Habitability and Repairs (Wis. Stat. § 704.07): Wisconsin landlords are required to maintain rental premises in a reasonable state of repair and in compliance with applicable housing codes. This includes keeping heating systems, plumbing, electrical systems, and structural components in working order. If your landlord fails to make necessary repairs after you provide written notice, you may have the right to withhold rent, terminate the lease, or arrange for repairs and deduct the cost — subject to specific procedural requirements set out in § 704.07. Verona renters should document repair requests in writing and keep copies.
Security Deposit Rules (Wis. Stat. § 704.28): Wisconsin has no cap on the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit. However, landlords must return the deposit — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 21 days of the tenant vacating the unit. If the landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement within that window, the tenant may recover double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees, in a civil action.
Notice to Terminate (Wis. Stat. § 704.19): For a month-to-month tenancy, either the landlord or tenant must provide at least 28 days' written notice before terminating the tenancy. The notice must specify the date on which the tenancy will end. Some landlords provide 30 days' notice as a matter of practice — that is also permissible. Fixed-term leases generally expire at the end of the lease term without additional notice unless the parties agree otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Wis. Stat. § 704.45): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations to a government agency, joining a tenant organization, or exercising any legal right. If a landlord takes an adverse action — such as raising rent, reducing services, or starting an eviction — within 6 months of a protected act, Wisconsin law creates a rebuttable presumption that the action was retaliatory. The landlord then bears the burden of proving a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Wis. Stat. § 704.11): Self-help eviction is illegal in Wisconsin. A landlord may not lock out a tenant, remove the tenant's belongings, or deliberately shut off utilities to force a tenant to leave without going through the court eviction process. If a landlord does any of these things unlawfully, the tenant is entitled to punitive damages of up to two months' rent, plus actual damages and attorney's fees.
Wisconsin's security deposit rules are governed by Wis. Stat. § 704.28 and the Wisconsin Administrative Code, ATCP 134 (administered by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection).
No statutory cap: Wisconsin law does not limit how much a landlord may charge for a security deposit. Verona landlords may charge any amount they choose, though market norms in Dane County typically range from one to two months' rent.
Return deadline — 21 days: After a tenant vacates the unit, the landlord must return the security deposit — or the remaining balance after lawful deductions — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions, within 21 days. The clock starts running from the later of the date the tenant vacates or the date the lease term ends.
Permissible deductions: Under ATCP 134.06, landlords may only deduct from the security deposit for: unpaid rent; damage beyond normal wear and tear; and certain other charges that are explicitly disclosed in a nonstandard rental provision. Deductions for normal wear and tear — such as minor scuffs on walls or carpet worn from ordinary use — are not permitted.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit within 21 days, fails to provide the required itemized statement, or makes improper deductions, the tenant may sue for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees (Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4)). Tenants should document the move-out condition with photos and retain copies of all written communications.
Evictions in Verona follow Wisconsin's statewide eviction procedure under Wis. Stat. Chapter 799 (small claims) and Wis. Stat. § 704.17. A landlord cannot remove a tenant without going through the court process — self-help eviction is illegal (see Wis. Stat. § 704.11).
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing for eviction, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction action (unlawful detainer) in Dane County Circuit Court, Small Claims Division. The filing fee is set by state court rules. The court will schedule a hearing, typically within a few weeks.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a court commissioner or judge. The tenant has the right to present a defense — including retaliation, improper notice, or habitability issues. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for eviction (writ of restitution) will be entered.
Step 4 — Enforcement: After the writ of restitution is issued, the Dane County Sheriff's Office enforces the eviction. The landlord cannot physically remove the tenant without the sheriff — doing so is an illegal lockout under Wis. Stat. § 704.11, which carries penalties of up to two months' rent in punitive damages plus actual damages and attorney's fees.
No just cause requirement: Wisconsin law does not require a landlord to provide a specific reason for non-renewing a month-to-month tenancy or declining to renew a fixed-term lease. As long as proper notice is given, a landlord may end a tenancy for any lawful reason — or no stated reason — provided the action is not retaliatory under Wis. Stat. § 704.45.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information here summarizes Wisconsin landlord-tenant law as it applies in Verona, Dane County, but laws change, local rules may be updated, and individual circumstances vary. Do not rely solely on this page to make legal decisions. If you are facing eviction, a security deposit dispute, or another housing issue, consult a qualified attorney or contact a legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information provided.
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