'Knowledge is power:' Legal Action of Wisconsin hosts tenants' rights panel at Sherman Phoenix

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Attorneys with Legal Action of Wisconsin (LAW) held a panel Saturday evening at the Sherman Phoenix marketplace, informing renters of their rights in the state. 

They touched on some of the "top 20 questions" that they receive from tenants, including topics on housing conditions and lease details. 

According to Brittany Schoenick, a staff attorney at LAW, the goal was "to address some problems and legal issues that tenants run into before an eviction starts."

"We know that the majority of tenants that are evicted don't have legal representation while the majority of landlords do," Schoenick said. "We're here to educate tenants about their rights as renters [and the] responsibilities and duties that the landlord has to them in keeping up their properties."

LAW Attorney Raphael Ramos said he wants renters to know that "there are resources out there."

"What we realize is that tenants benefit from additional information so that they can navigate a complicated system that's not really set up in their favor," Ramos said. "A lot of the things that people do that seem like common sense answers are not actually the right answer under the law."

Ramos said besides reaching out to LAW, renters can also get help from the Right to Counsel program, also known as Eviction Free Milwaukee, which provides legal representation if there's been an eviction filed. 

Renters facing other general housing-related issues can reach out to Milwaukee's rental housing resource center. 

"What we really want to do is get out there, get into the community, [and] try to educate people to know what these things are [and] let them know more about their rights and responsibilities," Ramos said. "Let them know we're here as a resource to help them."

Sonny Johnson, a Milwaukee landlord, said he learned a lot from Saturday's event.

"Tenants have rights, a lot of different rights, and we as landlords have to look at this," Johnson said. "I'm gonna have to update my lease and stuff a little bit, just work it out a little bit more."

If you missed the event, LAW is hosting another informative panel on Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Milwaukee Area Technical College.