What does this mean?

Right to Remain: The right to continue living in their current residence without being evicted, with some exceptions for severe non-payment of rent, significant property damage, or violations of lease agreements.

This looks like:

• Prohibit winter evictions between November 1 and March 31, except for emergency cases.

• Require landlords to make reasonable efforts to contact tenants about nonpayment prior to filing for eviction. 

• Expand notice to vacate period from 5 days to 14 days; restore broader “right to cure” protections repealed by Act 76. Extend the eviction process for non-payment from 5 to 60 days to give tenants time to cure arrears. 

What does this mean?

Rights to Repairs and Safe, Affordable Housing: The right for housing to be maintained in a safe, healthy, accessible condition, with necessary repairs made promptly.

This looks like: 

• Strengthen housing code enforcement; impose penalties for delays in essential repairs; expand eligibility for rent abatement under MGO § 32.04(2).

• Require landlords to complete repairs of immediately hazardous conditions within 48 hours of receiving written notice.

• Restrict property acquisition by landlords with a documented pattern of serious code violations.

What does this mean?

Right to Fair Leases: The right to a lease that is clear, transparent, and does not include unfair or exploitative terms.

This looks like:

• Promote availability of multi-year leases.

• Reinstate a limit on security deposits to one month’s rent; cap pet deposits (repealing Act 143 and aligning with pre-2011 law).

• Require landlords to carry insurance covering losses from fire, water, and pest infestations, and disclose coverage to tenants.

What does this mean?

Right to Rent Control: Rent stabilization laws, also known as "anti-rent gouging" laws, limit how much landlords can increase rent over a certain period of time.

This looks like:

• Establish a Rent Advisory Board to set annual rent increase limits based on CPI, local housing cost burden, and maintenance data.

• Prohibit rent increases when a unit is in violation of basic habitability standards.

• Repeal Act 143 provision allowing landlords to shift legal fees onto tenants; restore tenant protections.

What does this mean?

Right to Self-Determination: The right to live in their rental unit without interference, and the right to control how their personal information is used and disclosed

This looks like:

• Seal eviction records if the tenant pays rent or vacates before a formal court filing, following the Minnesota model.

• Expand landlord entry notice requirement to 24 hours; prohibit entry without tenant consent except in emergencies; violators subject to double damages.

• Prohibit water and power shutoffs without 48-hour written notice.

What does this mean?

Right to Equal Protection Under Law: The right for tenants to advocate for their needs, address housing issues, and build stronger, more inclusive neighborhoods.

What might this look like?

• Extend parity between tenant protections at city and county levels (e.g., coordinated enforcement, mutual recognition of housing standards).

• Distribute a tenant rights information leaflet with every lease agreement (administered by DCR or Housing Division).

• License all landlords and property managers operating residential rental housing in Madison. 

What does this mean?

Rights of the Elderly and Disabled: The right for equal protection and advocacy for seniors and disabled tenants under city, county, state, and federal law.

This looks like:

• Implement improved enforcement mechanisms and standards for investigating disability discrimination. 

• Prohibit or limit utility disconnections for elderly, disabled, or low-income households, especially during winter months (cf. Wis. Admin. Code PSC § 113.0301). 

• Require accessibility considerations for disabled persons in all new residential construction and renovations. 

What does this mean?

Right to Rent History: The right to review a landlord’s past rental record to make informed decisions about renting.

This looks like:

• Create a publicly searchable landlord registry including ownership information and compliance history.

• Make all civil records related to housing and building code violations publicly available online.

• Require landlords to disclose unresolved issues and code violations in the rental unit (repeal Act 76 restrictions). 

What does this mean?

Rights of Current Residents: The right of a current tenant to maintain their home without displacement.

This looks like:

• Prohibit retaliatory or defamatory references from landlords without substantiated cause; prohibit reference blacklisting.

• Require lease renewal notice at least 90 days before expiration; otherwise, tenant entitled to 10% of annual rent in credit or refund.

• Mandate that tenants be given 30 days to consider rent increase offers; ban coercive early lease signing practices; landlords must respond to renewal inquiries within 30 days.