More work necessary to establish tenants' rights
For most UW-Madison students, an apartment near campus represents a first foray into the world of renting. For almost as many students, this first renting experience inevitably leads to the conclusion that landlords are inherently slow to repair leaks and light fixtures, but operate swiftly when it comes to collecting rent and requiring a decision on lease renewal. For years, landlords could force new tenants to decide as early as move-in day whether to renew their lease, before even the first class of the semester began.