Rental Weaterizations

What is a Rental Weaterization

Starting January 1, 1985, most residential properties in Wisconsin have had to meet minimum energy conservation standards at the time of ownership transfer. Private state-certified inspectors are hired by owners to check properties for compliance with the standards. The Register of Deeds in your county will not record the transfer of a property unless:

– An inspector has certified the property; or

– The buyer has filed a Stipulation to bring it up to Code within a year; or

– The property or transfer is shown on the Real Estate Transfer Return to be excluded from the Code; or

– The buyer has filed a Waiver with the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) stating that the building will be demolished within two years.

Benefits of a Rental Weaterization

The benefits of these weatherization standards for residential rental properties include:

• Overall demand for heating fuels is reduced, thereby helping to stabilize fuel costs for everyone.

• Wisconsin’s dependence on imported heating fuels is decreased. (Wisconsin imports over 95% of its energy.)

• The utilization of Wisconsin’s weatherization workforce and products is increased.

• The burden of energy-inefficient rental units is shifted from tenants, who are necessarily limited in any corrective action, to landlords by requiring them to upgrade their buildings at the time of property transfer.

• The cost of upgrading the building to the carefully chosen standards is usually recovered in lowered heating costs. Thereafter, the savings continue and the building is more valuable.

For More Information from Rental Weatherization Database Click Here