March 13, 2001 - Introduced by Senators Plache, Burke, Rosenzweig, Darling and
Cowles, cosponsored by Representatives La Fave, Townsend, Ryba, Miller,
Staskunas, J. Lehman, Cullen, Kreuser, Richards
and Coggs. Referred to
Committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations.
SB88,1,3 1An Act to renumber and amend 815.39; to amend 254.595 (1), 254.595 (2),
2254.595 (3) (a), 254.595 (4) and 815.44 (1); and to create 815.39 (2) and 823.23
3of the statutes; relating to: receiverships for public nuisance.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, if real property, other than an owner-occupied one-family
or two-family dwelling, is in violation of a municipal building code provision that
concerns health or safety, the municipality or an interested party may commence an
action to have the property declared a health hazard. Under the law, a receiver may
be appointed to manage and control the property if a court finds that the property
is a health hazard and that the owner has not abated that hazard. This bill allows
the court to declare such property to be a nuisance and allows the court to permit
cities, villages, and towns to create a receivership to take control of residential
property that is declared a nuisance and abate that nuisance.
The bill also allows 1st or 2nd class cities to ask a court to appoint a receiver to
manage and control residential property, including a single-family dwelling, that is
declared a nuisance for other reasons, including because it is dilapidated, used as a
place of gambling, for the delivery or manufacture of a drug, or as a meeting place
for a criminal gang. The bill requires that the owner of the residential property be
given notice of the intent to petition a court for the appointment of receiver at least
60 days before filing the petition, to give the owner time to abate the nuisance.
If a court determines that abatement is required and that the owner will not
rehabilitate the property, the court shall appoint a receiver. A receiver created by the

court under this bill has authority to take possession of, and manage and maintain,
the property, terminate tenancies, charge and collect rents, contract with others to
conserve and rehabilitate the property, and dispose of personal property found at the
residential property. Under the bill, costs of the abatement, including the fee charged
by the receiver, are reviewed by the court and the costs not paid may be entered as
a judgment against the property. Under the bill, the court shall terminate the
receivership when the abatement or rehabilitation is completed or if the receiver
shows the court that the abatement is not feasible and that the improvements on the
real property have been demolished by the city, village, or town.
The bill also prohibits a landlord or receiver of residential property that is
subject to an action to abate a nuisance from committing certain acts, including
increasing the rent, decreasing services, or refusing to renew a rental agreement.
This limit on the landlord's or receiver's authority only applies under the bill if that
act would not have occurred if the abatement action was not begun and the tenant
shows that no nuisance exists with respect to the tenant's rental unit, the nuisance
was not caused by the tenant, or the action of the landlord or receiver is not necessary
to abate the nuisance.
Under current law, within one year after the execution sale of real estate, the
real estate sold may be redeemed by the payment to the purchaser of the sum paid
for the real estate at the execution sale. This bill reduces the time period of
redemption to two months for real estate that was sold based on a lien created as the
result of the unpaid costs incurred by a receiver in rehabilitating property that was
a nuisance or abating that nuisance.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB88, s. 1 1Section 1. 254.595 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB88,3,142 254.595 (1) If real property is in violation of those provisions of a municipal
3building code that concern health or safety or of an order or a regulation of the local
4board of health, the city, village or town in which the property is located may
5commence an action to declare the property a nuisance or human health hazard. A
6tenant or class of tenants of property that is in violation of the municipal building
7code or of an order or regulation of the local board of health or any other person or
8class of persons whose health, safety or property interests are or would be adversely
9affected by property that is in violation of the municipal building code or of an order
10or regulation of the local board of health may file a petition with the clerk of the city,

1village, or town requesting the governing body to commence an action to declare the
2property a nuisance or human health hazard. If the governing body refuses or fails
3to commence an action within 20 days after the filing of the petition, a tenant, class
4of tenants, other person or other class of persons may commence the action directly
5upon the filing of security for court costs. The court before which the action of the
6case is commenced shall exercise jurisdiction in rem or quasi in rem over the property
7and the owner of record of the property, if known, and all other persons of record
8holding or claiming any interest in the property shall be made parties defendant and
9service of process may be had upon them as provided by law. Any change of
10ownership after the commencement of the action shall not affect the jurisdiction of
11the court over the property. At the time that the action is commenced, the
12municipality or other parties plaintiff shall file a lis pendens. If the court finds that
13a nuisance or violation exists, it shall adjudge the property a nuisance or human
14health hazard and the entry of judgment shall be a lien upon the premises.
SB88, s. 2 15Section 2. 254.595 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB88,4,416 254.595 (2) A property owner or any person of record holding or claiming any
17interest in the property shall have 60 days after entry of judgment to abate the
18nuisance or
eliminate the violation. If, within 60 days after entry of judgment under
19sub. (1), an owner of the property presents evidence satisfactory to the court, upon
20hearing, that the nuisance or violation has been eliminated, the court shall set aside
21the judgment. It may not be a defense to this action that the owner of record of the
22property is a different person, partnership or corporate entity than the owner of
23record of the property on the date that the action was commenced or thereafter if a
24lis pendens has been filed prior to the change of ownership. No hearing under this
25subsection may be held until notice has been given to the municipality and all the

1plaintiffs advising them of their right to appear. If the judgment is not so set aside
2within 60 days after entry of judgment, the court shall appoint a disinterested person
3to act as receiver of the property for the purpose of abating the nuisance or human
4health hazard.
SB88, s. 3 5Section 3. 254.595 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB88,4,136 254.595 (3) (a) Any receiver appointed under sub. (2) shall collect all rents and
7profits accruing from the property, pay all costs of management, including all general
8and special real estate taxes or assessments and interest payments on first
9mortgages on the property, and make any repairs necessary to abate the nuisance or
10meet the standards required by the building code or the order or regulation of the
11local board of health. The receiver may, with the approval of the circuit court, borrow
12money against and encumber the property as security for the money, in the amounts
13necessary to abate the nuisance or meet the standards.
SB88, s. 4 14Section 4. 254.595 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB88,4,2315 254.595 (4) The receiver appointed under this section shall have a lien, for the
16expenses necessarily incurred to abate the nuisance or in the execution of the order,
17upon the premises upon or in respect of which the work required by the order has
18been done or expenses incurred. The municipality that sought the order declaring
19the property to be a nuisance or human health hazard may also recover its expenses
20and the expenses of the receiver under subs. (3) (a) and (5), to the extent that the
21expenses are not reimbursed under s. 632.103 (2) from funds withheld from an
22insurance settlement, by maintaining an action against the property owner under
23s. 74.53.
SB88, s. 5 24Section 5. 815.39 of the statutes is renumbered 815.39 (1) and amended to
25read:
SB88,5,6
1815.39 (1) Within Except as provided in sub. (2), within one year after an
2execution sale the real estate sold, or any lot, tract or portion that was separately
3sold, may be redeemed by the payment to the purchaser, to the purchaser's personal
4representatives or assigns, or to the then sheriff of the county where such the real
5estate is situated, for the use of such purchaser, of the sum paid on the sale thereof,
6together with the interest from the time of the sale.
SB88, s. 6 7Section 6. 815.39 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
SB88,5,98 815.39 (2) If an execution sale is for a lien filed under s. 823.23 (5), the period
9of redemption under sub. (1) is 2 months.
SB88, s. 7 10Section 7. 815.44 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB88,5,1411 815.44 (1) Who may acquire. In case the premises sold on execution or any part
12of them are not redeemed within the year prescribed by ss. 815.39 (1) and 815.40 then
13the interest of the purchaser may be acquired within 3 months after the expiration
14of the redemption period by the persons and on the terms prescribed in this section.
SB88, s. 8 15Section 8. 823.23 of the statutes is created to read:
SB88,5,16 16823.23 Receivership for public nuisances. (1) Definitions. In this section:
SB88,5,2017 (a) "Abatement" means the removal or suspension of any condition at a
18residential property that has been adjudicated to constitute a nuisance.
19"Abatement" may include the demolition of some or all of the improvements on the
20residential property if the residential property is unoccupied.
SB88,5,2321 (b) "Interested party" means any person that possesses any legal or equitable
22interest of record in the residential property, including the holder of any lien or
23encumbrance of record on the residential property.
SB88,5,2424 (c) "Purchase money security interest" means any of the following:
SB88,6,3
11. The interest of a vendor under a land contract relating to the residential
2property if the contract was recorded prior to the issuance of the notice under sub.
3(2) (b).
SB88,6,64 2. The interest of a mortgagee under a purchase money mortgage relating to
5the residential property if the mortgage was recorded prior to the issuance of the
6notice under sub. (2) (b).
SB88,6,97 3. The interest of a beneficiary under a purchase money trust deed relating to
8the residential property if the trust deed was recorded prior to the issuance of the
9notice under sub. (2) (b).
SB88,6,1110 (d) "Rehabilitate" means to make any improvements or corrections necessary
11to remove a threat to public health, safety, or welfare.
SB88,6,1512 (f) "Residential property" means land, together with all the improvements
13erected on the land, that is located in a 1st or 2nd class city and used or intended to
14be used for residential purposes, including single-family, duplex, and multifamily
15structures, and mixed-use structures that have one or more residential units.
SB88,6,19 16(2) Receivership for buildings that constitute a nuisance; procedure. (a) If
17a residential property is alleged to be a nuisance under this chapter or s. 254.595, the
181st or 2nd class city in which the property is located may apply to the circuit court
19for the appointment of a receiver to abate or rehabilitate the residential property.
SB88,6,2420 (b) At least 60 days before filing an application for the appointment of a receiver
21under par. (a), the 1st or 2nd class city shall give written notice by 1st class mail to
22all owners, owner's agents, and interested parties at their last-known address of the
23intent to file the application and by publication as a class 1 notice under ch. 985. The
24notice shall include all of the following information:
SB88,6,2525 1. The address and other information that identifies the residential property.
SB88,7,2
12. The conditions of the residential property that constitute a nuisance and that
2resulted in the decision to apply for a receiver.
SB88,7,53 3. The name, address, and telephone number of the person or department
4where additional information can be obtained concerning the nuisance and the
5action necessary to abate the nuisance.
SB88,7,76 4. That the appointment of a receiver may be requested unless action is taken
7to abate the nuisance within 60 days after receipt of the notice.
SB88,7,128 (c) If a notice sent under par. (b) is recorded with the register of deeds in the
9county in which the residential property is located, the notice is considered to have
10been served, as of the date the notice is recorded, on any person claiming an interest
11in the residential property as a result of a conveyance from the owner of record unless
12the conveyance was recorded before the recording of the notice.
SB88,7,1713 (d) A city may not apply for the appointment of a receiver under this subsection
14if an interested party has commenced and is prosecuting in a timely fashion an action
15or other judicial or administrative proceeding to foreclose a security interest on the
16residential property, or to obtain specific performance of, or forfeit, the purchaser's
17interest in a land contract.
SB88,7,2018 (e) Notice of the application for the appointment of a receiver under this section
19shall be served on all owners, owners' agents, and interested parties. At the time that
20the application is filed with the court, the applicant shall file a lis pendens.
SB88,8,221 (f) If, following the application for appointment of a receiver, one or more of the
22interested parties elects to abate the nuisance or rehabilitate the residential
23property, the party or parties shall be required to post security in such an amount
24and character as the court considers appropriate to ensure timely performance of all
25work necessary to abate the nuisance or rehabilitate the residential property, as well

1as satisfy such other conditions as the court considers appropriate for timely
2completion of the abatement or rehabilitation.
SB88,8,93 (g) In the event that all interested parties elect not to act under par. (f) or to
4timely perform work undertaken under par. (f), the court shall make a determination
5as to whether the residential property is a threat to public health, safety, or welfare.
6The court shall determine if abatement or rehabilitation is required, the extent of the
7abatement or rehabilitation necessary, and the scope of work necessary to eliminate
8the conditions and shall appoint a receiver to complete the abatement or
9rehabilitation.
SB88,8,1010 (h) The court shall appoint a receiver who is one of the following:
SB88,8,1311 1. A housing authority, redevelopment company, redevelopment corporation,
12redevelopment authority, or community development authority under ss. 66.1201,
1366.1301, 66.1331, 66.1333, or 66.1335.
SB88,8,1514 2. A nonprofit corporation, the primary purpose of which is the improvement
15of housing conditions within the city in which the property is located.
SB88,8,1816 (i) If the court is unable to appoint a receiver from one of the entities listed in
17par. (h), the court may appoint as a receiver any other person that the court
18determines to be competent.
SB88,8,2019 (j) A receiver appointed by the court pursuant to this section shall not be
20required to give security or bond as a condition of the appointment.
SB88,8,23 21(3) Authority of receiver; financing agreements; fee. (a) A receiver
22appointed under sub. (2) (h) or (i) shall have the authority to do all of the following
23unless specifically limited by the court:
SB88,9,424 1. Take possession and control of the residential property including the right
25to enter into and terminate tenancies, manage and maintain the property under chs.

1704 and 799 and rules related to residential rental practices promulgated under s.
2100.20 (2), and charge and collect rents derived from the residential property,
3applying the sum of those rents to the costs incurred due to the abatement or
4rehabilitation and receivership.
SB88,9,75 2. Negotiate contracts and pay all expenses associated with operation and
6conservation of the residential property including all utility, fuel, custodial, repair,
7or insurance expenses.
SB88,9,108 3. Pay all accrued property taxes, penalties, assessments, and other charges
9imposed on the residential property by a unit of government including any charges
10accruing during the pendency of the receivership.
SB88,9,1211 4. Dispose of any or all abandoned personal property found at the residential
12property.
SB88,9,1413 5. Enter into contracts and pay for the performance of any work necessary to
14complete the abatement or rehabilitation.
SB88,9,2015 (b) In addition to the powers under par. (a), the receiver may, under such terms
16and conditions as a court shall allow, enter into financing agreements with public or
17private lenders and encumber the property so as to have moneys available to abate
18the nuisance or rehabilitate the property. The receiver may give a holder of a
19purchase money security interest who received notice under sub. (2) the first
20opportunity to lend the money under this paragraph.
SB88,9,2321 (c) A receiver may charge an administration fee at an hourly rate approved by
22the court or at a rate of 20% of the total cost of the abatement or rehabilitation,
23whichever the court considers more appropriate.
SB88,9,25 24(4) Limits on landlord authority. (a) In this subsection, "anticipated action"
25means a statement or statements by a person authorized by ordinance to bring an

1action under this section that leads a landlord to conclude that an action under this
2section may be commenced.
SB88,10,133 (b) A landlord or receiver, or any agent of a landlord or receiver, of a residential
4rental unit that is the subject of any action, or anticipated action, to abate an alleged
5nuisance under this section may not with respect to the tenant of the rental unit,
6increase rent, decrease services, bring a court proceeding for possession of the unit,
7refuse to renew the rental agreement, or threaten or attempt to do any of the
8foregoing if the tenant, in a court proceeding commenced by the tenant, or landlord,
9establishes by a preponderance of the credible evidence that the foregoing conduct
10would not have occurred but for the bringing of an action for the abatement of a
11nuisance under this section with respect to the rental unit or the anticipation of such
12an action being brought. To prevail, the tenant must also establish by a
13preponderance of the evidence that one of the following applies:
SB88,10,1414 1. No nuisance was found with respect to the rental unit.
SB88,10,1515 2. The tenant was found not to cause a nuisance with respect to the rental unit.
SB88,10,1716 3. If a nuisance exists under this section, the conduct specified in this
17paragraph is not necessary to abate the nuisance.
SB88,10,2018 (d) Any action or inaction by a landlord, receiver, or agent described in par. (b)
19is subject to chs. 704 and 799, and any court proceeding regarding such an action or
20inaction shall be heard by the following court:
SB88,10,2221 1. If the court proceeding is brought by a receiver, by the court that appointed
22the receiver.
SB88,10,2423 2. If the court proceeding is brought by the tenant or landlord, in small claims
24court as an eviction action.
SB88,11,2
1(e) In any action taken under par. (b), the notice given to the tenant must state
2the basis for the action and the right of the tenant to contest the action.
SB88,11,9 3(5) Review of expenditures by court; lien for unpaid expenses. (a) All moneys
4the receiver expends and all of the costs and obligations that he or she incurs in
5performing the abatement or rehabilitation, including the receiver's administrative
6fee, shall be reviewed by the court for reasonableness and necessity. To the extent
7that the court finds the moneys, costs, or obligations to be reasonable and necessary,
8it shall issue an order reciting this fact as well as the amount found to be reasonable
9and necessary.
SB88,11,1510 (b) If all of the costs and obligations that the court found to be reasonable and
11necessary under par. (a) have not been paid, the court shall issue a judgment for the
12unpaid amount and file that judgment with the office of the clerk of court within 60
13days after the receiver files a statement of those unpaid costs and obligations with
14the court and that judgment shall constitute a lien on the residential property from
15the date of the filing of the judgment.
SB88,11,23 16(6) Effect on purchase money security interest of lien for unpaid abatement
17expenses.
(a) The issuance of the notice under sub. (2) (b) shall constitute a default
18for waste under any purchase money security interest relating to the residential
19property subject to the notice, and if any violations of the building code listed in the
20notice are not corrected within 30 days after the mailing of the notice, the vendor,
21mortgagee, or beneficiary under any purchase money security interest may
22commence proceedings to exercise the remedies set forth in the purchase money
23security interest.
SB88,12,3
1(b) A lien created under sub. (5) (b) shall be prior and superior to any purchase
2money security interest in the residential property if all of the following apply to that
3purchase money security interest:
SB88,12,64 1. The city gave the holder of the purchase money security interest and any
5vendee, mortgagor, or grantor under such purchase money security interest the
6notice under sub. (2) (b).
SB88,12,107 2. The holder of the purchase money security interest has not, prior to the
8appointment of a receiver under sub. (2) (g), initiated proceedings to foreclose the
9purchase money security interest, to abate the conditions resulting in issuance of the
10notice under sub. (2) (b) or to gain possession of the property.
SB88,12,1511 (c) Except for property tax liens, assessment liens, and purchase money
12security interests not included in par. (b), a lien created under sub. (5) (b) shall be
13prior and superior to all other liens, mortgages, and encumbrances against the
14residential property upon which it is imposed without regard to the date the other
15liens, mortgages, or encumbrances were attached to the residential property.
SB88,12,18 16(7) Termination of receivership. (a) The receivership into which the court
17placed the residential property under sub. (2) (h) or (i) shall terminate only by an
18order of the court.
SB88,12,2119 (b) The court shall terminate the receivership if the residential property's
20owner or owner's agent or an interested party or the receiver show the court all of the
21following:
SB88,12,2222 1. That the abatement or rehabilitation has been completed.
SB88,13,223 2. That the costs and obligations incurred due to the abatement or
24rehabilitation, including the receiver's administrative fee, have been paid by an

1owner, owner's agent, or interested party or that a lien has been filed pursuant to sub.
2(5).
SB88,13,43 3. That the owner, owner's agent, or interested party will manage the
4residential property in conformance with applicable housing codes.
SB88,13,65 (c) The court shall terminate the receivership if the receiver shows the court
6one of the following:
SB88,13,77 1. That the abatement or rehabilitation is not feasible.
SB88,13,98 2. That the improvements on the property have been demolished by the 1st or
92nd class city.
SB88,13,1010 (End)
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