06/05/2026
Big NEWS for Landlords in Wisconsin!
The Wisconsin Supreme Court handed down its long-awaited decision in the landlord-tenant case Koble Investments v. Marquardt on June 5, 2026, reversing the Court of Appeals decision that previously threatened landlords with massive rent disgorgement penalties.
The June 5, 2026 Supreme Court ruling clarified several crucial aspects of Wisconsin landlord-tenant law:
Wisconsin Consumer Act (WCA): The Court officially ruled that the WCA does not apply to residential leases, putting a stop to tenants using the WCA to secure massive financial windfalls and attorney fees.
Void Lease Penalties: The Supreme Court reversed the appellate court's holding, effectively overturning the mandate that a minor technical error (such as failing to include a mandatory domestic abuse notice provision) entitles a tenant to the "complete disgorgement" or doubling of all rent previously paid under the lease.
The Legislative Context: The ruling follows a tense legislative struggle where the state legislature passed a "Koble Fix" bill (Assembly Bill 202 / Senate Bill 206) to cap tenant damages and clarify that the WCA does not govern residential leases. Governor Tony Evers subsequently vetoed the legislative fix in 2026, explicitly stating he was deferring to the judiciary to resolve the issue.