A proposal aiming to reduce misunderstandings between tenants and landlords will be introduced at the Madison City Council meeting tonight.
The proposal, sponsored by Alds. Todd Jarrell, District 8, Jean MacCubbin, District 11, Kent Palmer, District 15, and Mayor Sue Bauman, would require landlords to distribute a \tenants' bill of rights"" document explaining renters' rights and responsibilities as tenants at or before the signing of a lease.
""[This measure] will make important information available and this will empower tenants,"" Jarrell said.
The document would assign accountability between tenants and landlords in regard to maintenance and cleanliness of leased premises, legal rules of conduct, timely payment of rent and responsibility for damages.
Jarrell said the proposal will list responsibilities of both tenant and landlord, outline the section of city ordinance codes relevant to landlord and tenant relationships, address housing discrimination and provide contact information for housing organizations such as the Madison Area Apartment Association and non-emergency police and fire services.
""[The proposal] shows tenants what the law is and that one cannot be discriminated against,"" Jarrell said.
According to Ald. Tom Powell, District 5, a supporter of the measure, it would be especially useful for college students who are tenants.
""Many UW students are first-time renters who are uneducated and unfamiliar with city ordinances and fall prey to unscrupulous landlords,"" he said.
Powell said common practices by landlords include tacking on unnecessary carpet cleaning fees and illegally entering tenants' apartments.
Ald. Steve Holtzman, District 19, said he is skeptical of the proposal.
""It will cost landlords to comply with any added regulations which will, in turn, force rental rates to rise,"" he said. ""Initiating a set of ground rules will level the playing field, but we must be careful not to take away the abilities of landlords to effectively manage their properties.""
Despite Holtzman's concerns about overregulating landlords, Tim Wadlington, the supervisor for Steve Brown Apartments, which owns several campus-area properties, said he is strongly in favor of the proposal.
""It's important for information to be laid out and shared between both tenant and landlord,"" he said.
Tenants will receive a sense of security with this proposal in place, Powell said.
""If tenants know what their rights are and the options available to them, they can save themselves a lot of wasted time and money,"" he said.
