Wisconsin’s winter ban on utility shut-offs is officially in effect.
From November to mid-April, landlords are legally required to allow tenants to heat their living areas to a certain level. Even if a tenant falls behind on payments, We Energies and other utility companies cannot turn off heat or electricity services during this time.
As temperatures start to dip, here’s what to know about Wisconsin’s heating laws:
This nonfunctioning thermostat is seen in the living room area of the apartment of Steve Paradowski at Seaway Terrace Apartments. Paradowski said his heat and hot water has never consistently worked over the 10 years he has lived at the apartment complex.
Is your landlord allowed to turn off the heat or electricity in the winter?
No. Even if a tenant falls behind on utility bills, Wisconsin law requires landlords to keep on any utilities related to heating from Nov. 1 to April 15.
However, keep in mind that the seasonal moratorium on heat shut-offs lifts in mid-April. That means if you’ve fallen behind on gas and electricity bills before that period, landlords can legally turn your utilities off until you make these payments.
What is the minimum temperature your heat should be in the winter?
Landlords must allow tenants to heat their living and sleeping areas to at least 67 degrees, according to the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services.
Anything below these temperatures counts as an unsafe heating violation. However, these thresholds do not apply to common spaces in an apartment building, such as a hallway or stairwell.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting homes at 68 and 70 degrees in the winter, with lower temperatures while you’re asleep or away from home to save on energy bills. For children, the ideal sleep temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees, according to Children’s Wisconsin.
What to do if you lose heat in the winter
Here’s what you should do if your landlord illegally turns off heating utilities in the winter, according to Milwaukee DNS:
Contact your landlord or property manager to report the issue.
If your landlord is non-responsive, report the issue to Milwaukee DNS at (414) 286-2489 (CITY). The department will also try to notify your property manager and then send an inspector to your home to verify the claim.
If the violation is severe enough, the DNS inspector may write an emergency order to fix the heating.
If the emergency order is not addressed, the department may issue a placard order — meaning all tenants must temporarily vacate the property until the repairs have been completed. However, property managers are not required to provide alternative accommodations for tenants in these cases. If you are without housing during a placard order, you can contact Community Advocates, which helps find shelter for Milwaukeeans in an emergency, or call 211, the city’s 24-hour social service hotline.
More: Wisconsin’s energy program helps cover utility bills despite federal funding uncertainties
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Is your Wisconsin landlord required to heat your home in the winter?
Wisconsin, utility bills
#Wisconsins #seasonal #ban #heat #electricity #service #shutoffs #officially #effect