Across the state of Wisconsin, housing policy has increasingly favored landlords and real estate speculation over the needs of residents. Between 2011 and 2019 alone, more than 100 pro-landlord laws were passed statewide. In 2013, Act 76 eliminated 25 pro-tenant protections previously adopted in Madison, weakening renter protections and limiting the city’s ability to regulate housing in the public interest.

Meanwhile, many tenants in Madison face:

• Unsafe housing conditions
• Rapid rent increases
• Unfair lease terms
• Eviction threats
• Limited transparency about rent history
• Discrimination and lack of accessibility protections

In 2023, pro-tenant legislators introduced a Tenant Protection Package in the Wisconsin State Legislature consisting of 22 bills designed to strengthen renter protections. These measures have not been enacted.

Madison residents deserve stronger protections now. That is why tenants across the city are calling for the adoption of a Madison Tenant Bill of Rights.

 The Madison Tenant Bill of Rights

We call on city and state leaders to recognize the following fundamental rights for all renters.

1. Right to Remain
Tenants should be protected from displacement caused by speculative development, unjust evictions, or excessive rent increases.

2. Right to Safe Housing
All residents deserve housing that meets clear health and safety standards, with strong enforcement mechanisms to ensure landlords maintain their properties.

3. Right to Fair Leases
Lease agreements should be transparent, fair, and free from exploitative clauses that undermine tenant rights.

4. Right to Rent Stabilization
Policies should limit extreme rent increases and provide stability so tenants can remain in their homes and communities.

5. Right to Privacy
Tenants deserve clear protections against intrusive or excessive landlord entry and surveillance.

6. Right to Equal Protection Under the Law
Housing policies and enforcement must protect tenants from discrimination and ensure equal treatment.

7. Rights of Older Adults and Disabled Tenants
Housing should be accessible and stable for seniors and people with disabilities, including protections against displacement and barriers to accommodation.

8. Right to Know Your Rent History
Tenants should have access to information about past rent levels for their unit so they can identify unjustified increases.

9. Rights of Current Residents Over Speculators
Housing policy should prioritize people who live in and sustain Madison communities—not outside speculation and profit-driven displacement.

 
How This Vision Was Developed

The Madison Tenant Bill of Rights is a tenant-led initiative organized by Madison Tenant Power, a tenant union founded in 2019 to defend renters’ rights and promote dignified housing.

In 2023, tenants gathered at the Open House Renter’s Assembly, where residents came together to imagine what fair, sustainable renting could look like in Madison. This document reflects that collective vision. The Tenant Bill of Rights is written by tenants, for tenants.

Organizations Supporting This Campaign

The following groups have endorsed the Madison Tenant Bill of Rights:

Autonomous Tenant Union Network
Boise Tenants United (Idaho)
Dane County Homeless Initiative
Detroit Tenants Association (Michigan)
Madison Industrial Workers of the World – General Membership Branch
Madison Tenant Power
Madison WI Homeless Union
Mask Bloc 608
Milwaukee Autonomous Tenant Union
Ottawa Neighbourhood Organizing Centre (Ontario, Canada)
Philadelphia Tenants Union (Pennsylvania)
Portland Tenants United (Oregon)
Sun-Seeker MKE Collective
Trans Advocacy Madison
UW–Madison Chinese Student Democratic Socialists

Organizations can request endorsement by emailing mtp@madisontenantpower.org.

 Sign the Petition

If you believe tenants in Madison deserve stronger protections, add your name to support the Madison Tenant Bill of Rights and call on local and state leaders to act.

Together, we can build a city where everyone has the right to safe, stable, and dignified housing.