Rent increase and the WHEAP

[Bins2609]

WI.
In July of 2016 my husband and I filled out all the forms to get assistance through the Wisconsin home energy assistance program. They then came and updated all of our appliances and put insulation into the house that we are renting. Our landlord is not trying to increase our rent and I heard that he has to wait two years until after they installed the assistance program to raise our rent. Any thoughts?

 

[adjusterjack]

I heard that he has to wait two years until after they installed the assistance program to raise our rent. Any thoughts?

I find it hard to imagine that there is any truth to that.

I haven't found anything online to confirm it.

Call the WI WHEAP administrator and ask that question.

1-866-432-8947

If somebody says yes, make sure you get a statute or code number for reference.

 

[LdiJ]

I find it hard to imagine that there is any truth to that.

I haven't found anything online to confirm it.

I haven't either, but I see some logic in it. Apparently the landlord has received either a free or subsidized upgrade of appliances and insulation. That increases the worth of his/her property with either no cost to the landlord or a subsidized cost to the landlord. I could easily see that free or partially free upgrade being contingent on not raising his tenant's rent for a period of time. I could see the WHEAP program requiring the landlord to sign off on that before they provided the upgrades.[/quote]

Call the WI WHEAP administrator and ask that question.

1-866-432-8947

I agree with that.

If somebody says yes, make sure you get a statute or code number for reference.

There might not be any statute or code involved. It might be a not for profit program that has nothing to do with state government therefore nothing to do with a code or statute.

 

[adjusterjack]

"The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) administers the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Public Benefits Energy Assistance Program."

I see the words "federally funded" in there.

You can bet that there are statutes, codes, and rules.

 

[FarmerJ]

Even back in the post arab oil embargo years weatherization programs did have contracts that landlords had to sign which did regulate rent increases for x amount of time, Ive met landlords who would not let weatherization programs do anything like add insulation because they didn't want to be bound to anything that would regulate rents. The program can tell you more especially like who you can contact to learn if rent increases are higher than what the LL agreed to. ( In time your LL should not regret having allowed this program to benefit him too because sooner or later city ordinances are changed and require the work to be done anyway or at least that's what happened in Mpls, the first change was attic / roof insulation then some time while I had my first home in the later 80s the city required side wall insulation too)