Housing Laws

If you give the landlord a certified copy of one of the following documents, within 48 hours the landlord has to change the locks to your home or give you permission to do so:

• a domestic abuse injunction protecting you;
• a child abuse restraining order protecting your child;
• a harassment injunction protecting you or your child that is based on an act, attempt, or threat of sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, repeated acts of sexual assault of a child, or stalking;
• an order that states that the defendant cannot contact you while s/he is out of jail awaiting a criminal court hearing (“condition of release”);
• a criminal complaint alleging that sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, repeated acts of sexual assault of a child, or stalking was committed against you or your child; or
• a criminal complaint that was filed against the defendant after s/he was arrested for committing domestic abuse against you.¹

Whether you or the landlord changes the locks, you are responsible for the cost of changing the locks. If you change them yourself, you need to give the landlord a copy of the key to the new lock.²

If the abuser is also listed as a tenant on the lease, the landlord will not change the locks unless the order/injunction specifically states that the abuser must stay away from the home or have no contact with you.³

¹ Wis. Stat. § 704.16(4)(a), (4)(b), (4)(c)
² Wis. Stat. § 704.16(4)(b)
³ Wis. Stat. § 704.16(4)(c)(1)