wisconsin law for a landlord that rents a house that isn't completed as stated in the signed lease (apartment)

[germanbecks]

I am living in superior wisconsin while attending school. Myself and 6 friends of mine have signed a year lease for a house which started on august 1st. Over the summer time we agreed with our landlord that he would replace the current windows with new ones and fix the pluming in the upstairs bathroom so there was not a drip. He has had all summer to finish the projects as no one was living in the house. On our moving in date the house was not finished. He took on more projects than we agreed upon and did not notify us about the status of the house. When questioned about if we can still move in and when all the work will be completed he states they are a week behind. I just want to know what the Wisconsin law is for such a situation. We need a place to live but the house currently has no working bathrooms and not all the rooms are open due to contruction in other areas of the house.

What is the state law and has he broken the lease and is there someway we can ask for some of our money back? what about the electric bill because they are still working on the house?

[limapie]

There is such a thing as an occupancy permit. If the housing does not have a working bathroom
then a permit will not be issued. If a person lives in the dwelling without a permit, they can be fined
by the city/county government.
I suggest that you seek a copy of this permit first. The building code inspector for the city/county should be contacted.
He also will have other suggestions for you, I am sure.

[limapie]

As far as your electric bill, don't contact the electric company for service. If your name
is not on the bill, then you do not have to pay.

[limapie]

When people start up with a rental, they should make a detailed list of items that are
wrong with the place. For instance, there is a gouge on the counter top. The window
glass has a crack in it. The stove is dirty. The refrigerator is dirty. The cupboards
are dirty. The carpet is dirty. The walls are dirty.
(Put these dirty things down ---(everything) even if not really totally dirty because when you check out, the landlord will charge you by the hour to clean these things. He can't if you said
that they were dirty when you moved in.)
Some light bulbs were burned out...even if not burned out....put a burned out one in....as they will charge you for this, too.
Go through the whole apartment and sign the list. Then present this to the landlord and have
him sign as well. He gets a copy. You keep a copy.
At the end of the lease and when you move out, you should be given back your security
deposit. If not, then you can go to small claims and get a judgment against the landlord.
If the landlord still will not give back the security deposit, then you go back to small claims
and you can claim 10 times the amount withheld and ask for a lien on his property.